Dental restoration molds

ABSTRACT

A tool for forming a dental restoration includes a mold body configured to combine with a tooth of a patient to define a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired tooth structure of the tooth. In some examples, the portion of desired tooth structure defines an interproximal surface of the tooth. The mold body may include, in some examples, a base member configured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth of the patient to attach the mold body to the at least one tooth, and an interproximal member extending from the base member and configured to be disposed between adjacent teeth of the patient when the base member is fit over the at least one tooth. The interproximal member defines a surface of the mold cavity.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/366,939, entitled, “DENTAL RESTORATION MOLDS” and filed on Jul. 26,2016, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to dental restorations.

BACKGROUND

A dental restoration, or a dental filling, utilizes a restorative dentalmaterial to improve function, integrity, and morphology of missing orirregular tooth structure. For example, a dental restoration may be usedto restore missing tooth structure due to congenital discrepancies,following external trauma, or as part of a restorative treatment fordental caries, or tooth decay.

Restorative dentistry may also be an aesthetic treatment to improveappearance of teeth by, for example, altering their shape and/or opticalproperties (e.g., shape and/or translucency) by, for example, applying aveneer, enlarging an undersized tooth, managing position or contour ofadjacent soft tissues, lessening or removing a gap (diastema), and/orresolving the appearance of malposition.

Restorative dentistry may also be used to adjust the biting or chewingfunction of teeth, to affect tooth function, and/or other aspects ofoverall oral health such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders,periodontal involvement, gingival recession or as part of a larger planto construct a healthy and stable oral environment.

Restorative dentistry may include removing tooth structure, such asdrilling decay from an infected tooth or reshaping teeth by removingundesired tooth structure (e.g., which may be referred to as “preparing”or “recontouring” the tooth) and then using relatively simple tools anda relatively high level of craftsmanship to isolate, retract, fill andcontour the finished restoration.

SUMMARY

This disclosure describes devices, systems, and techniques for molding(or shaping or contouring) restorative dental material directly on atooth located within a mouth of a patient. In some examples, a dentalrestoration tool includes a mold body that, together with a tooth of aparticular patient, defines a mold cavity configured to receiverestorative dental material. The restorative dental material may beintroduced into the mold cavity and cured to define a dentalrestoration. The dental restoration tool may be custom designed for aparticular tooth (or set of teeth) for a particular patient. In someexamples, such custom tools may be produced using three-dimensionalprinting techniques. Tools may also be produced by other methods ofcreating physical objects from digital data, such as CAD/CAM milling.

The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the techniques described in this disclosurewill be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an example tool for forming a dentalrestoration, the tool including at least one mold body.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of an example door body that maybe a part of a tool for forming a dental restoration.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of another example door body,which is similar to the door body shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, but includesa flanged portion.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of another example door body that may be apart of a tool for forming a dental restoration, where the door body isconfigured to be mechanically connected to a mold body via a hinge.

FIG. 4B is a back view of a part of another example tool for forming adental restoration, where the tool includes the mold body of FIG. 1 andthe door body of FIG. 4A connected together via a hinge.

FIG. 5 is a front view of another example tool for forming a dentalrestoration, where the tool includes the mold bodies of FIG. 1, the doorbody of FIGS. 2A and 2B, and the door body of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are perspective and side cross-sectional views ofanother example tool for forming a dental restoration.

FIGS. 7A-7G illustrate example steps for using the tool of FIG. 5 toform a dental restoration.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are interior views of another example tool for forming adental restoration.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are bottom views of another example tool for forming adental restoration.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are assembled and expanded cross-sectional views ofanother example tool for forming a dental restoration.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are side and top views of another example tool forforming a dental restoration.

FIG. 15 is a top view of another example tool for forming a dentalrestoration.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another example tool for forming adental restoration.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are front and top views of an example mold body of anexample tool for forming a dental restoration.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are front and bottom views of an example tool forforming a dental restoration, where the tool includes the mold body ofFIGS. 17A and 17B and an additional mold body.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are top and perspective views of another example toolfor forming a dental restoration.

FIGS. 20A-20E illustrate another example mold body for forming a dentalrestoration.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are perspective and front views of another exampletool for forming a dental restoration.

FIG. 22 is a diagram of an example system that may be used to design anyof the tools of FIGS. 1-21B.

FIG. 23 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of designingany of the tools of FIGS. 1-21B.

FIG. 24 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for forming anyof the tools of FIGS. 1-21B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Restorative dentistry may be used to add tooth structure to a patient'sdentition, e.g., to an existing tooth, in order to improve at least oneof function, integrity, aesthetics, or morphology of missing orirregular tooth structure. For example, restorative dentistry can be anaesthetic treatment to improve appearance of teeth by, for example,altering their shape and/or optical properties (e.g., shapeand/translucency), which can be achieved using any suitable technique,such as by applying a veneer, managing position or contour of adjacentsoft tissues, lessening or removing a gap (diastema), and/or resolvingthe appearance of malposition. As another example, restorative dentistrymay be used to adjust the biting or chewing function of teeth to affecttooth function and/or other aspects of overall oral health such astemporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, periodontal involvement,gingival recession or as part of a larger plan to construct a healthyand stable oral environment.

In some cases, a dental restoration process includes drilling decay froman infected tooth or reshaping teeth by removing undesired toothstructure (e.g., which may be referred to as “preparing” or“recontouring” the tooth) and then using tools and craftsmanship tomanually isolate, retract, fill and contour the finished restoration.

Different techniques may be used to isolate the dental restoration site.Quality isolation of the dental restoration site via a rubber dam can becumbersome and may be skipped for less effective isolation via cottonrolls, which may increase the risk of contamination, reduce longevity ofthe restoration, or both. Retraction of soft and hard tissue may includemanipulation of cords, wedges and matrix bands. Imperfect retractiontechniques may result in contamination, difficulty in achieving propertooth contours and symmetry, finishing and/or polishing in interproximalareas, poorly adapted contacts, or any combination thereof.

While “bulk fill” restorative materials and high intensity curing lightsmay facilitate relatively fast filling of deep cavities (e.g., 4-5millimeters (mm)), many restorations may be completed in a single shade(of color) as practitioners may be uncertain of the correct layeringprotocol for multiple shades or types of restorative material.Additionally, with little geometrical guidance available on a preparedtooth, creation of the final filling level and occlusal surface geometrymay include overfilling with restorative dental material, followed by aniterative process of grinding and checking tooth contact and bitingfunction on an anesthetized patient. This process may be the most timeconsuming for dental restorations and errors here may result in toothsensitivity and return visits for adjustment.

Custom molds may be used to facilitate restoration of tooth structure.For example, a mold body may be positioned over a patient's toothstructure and, alone or together with existing tooth structure, maydefine a mold cavity configured to receive restorative material. Theconfiguration of the mold cavity may correspond to the desiredconfiguration of the dental restoration. A dental restoration may beformed by positioning the mold body in a patient's mouth at the desiredlocation for the dental restoration, introducing a restorative materialinto the mold cavity before or after positioning the mold body in thepatient's mouth, and curing the restorative material while the mold isstill in place in the mouth. The cured restorative material may definethe dental restoration. However, some such molds may allow apractitioner little control over material placement, including shading,at least in part because the practitioner is unable to see into the moldcavity while it is positioned in the patient's mouth at the desiredlocation.

Additionally, use of molds may result in flashing as restorativematerial may leak from seams of the mold cavity or the junction of themold with the tooth and flow into unintended and often undesirableareas. Flashing may be difficult to remove after curing the restoration.In dental applications, this can potentially cause irritation, staining,food particle entrapment, and/or failure of the restoration. Some areasin which flash may occur are interproximally, e.g., due to poor access,at the gingival margin, where attempts to remove or finish can causeirritation to the gums, and incisally.

The tools described herein may include one or more features designed toreduce flash and/or to allow increased control of the placement ofrestorative material by practitioners using more traditional skills andtechniques. The tools described herein may further include features toimprove functionality of dental restoration tools, and ease of use ofthe tools. The tools described herein may not be simple molds thatsimply reflect the shape of desired tooth structure but may instead bedesigned to include additional features that provide one or more of theforegoing benefits.

In some examples, a tool described herein may be digitally designed. Forexample, a tool may be designed using a three-dimensional (3D) model ofthe patient's tooth structure (e.g., obtained from an intraoral scan ofall or part of the patient's dentition or scanning of a conventionalimpression or model). The tool can be, for example, manufactured fromthe digital data using an additive technique, such as 3D printing, or asubtractive technique, such as computer-aided design/computer-aidedmanufacturing (CAD/CAM) milling.

In some examples, the tool for a dental restoration may include a molddesigned based on the 3D model of the patient's tooth structure, and mayinclude additional features to provide advantages over molds that areformed based simply on the 3D scan, a wax mold, or other molds basedsimply on the shape of the anatomy and/or desired tooth structure of thepatient. The disclosed mold and techniques may facilitate high qualitydental restorations with reduced time and/or skill requirements comparedto conventional dental restoration techniques and/or may facilitate highquality dental restorations with improved quality, reduced flash, and/orreduced time and/or skill requirements compared to other moldingtechniques.

Example techniques for forming tools for a dental restoration aredescribed in International Publication No. WO 2016/094272, entitled,“Dental Restoration Molding Techniques,” International Publication No.WO 2017/106431 A1, entitled, “Dental Restoration Molds,” andInternational Patent Publication No. WO 2017/106419, entitled,“One-Piece Dental Restoration Molds.”

FIG. 1 is a front view of an example tool 100 for forming a dentalrestoration. The tool 100 includes a mold body 102, which may beconfigured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth of apatient. For example, mold body 102 may be specifically designed to fitover, mate with, and/or provide restorative structure to the at leastone tooth. In the example shown in FIG. 1, mold body 102 defines one ormore apertures 104 a, 104 b (collectively referred to as “apertures104”), which may each be configured to align with a portion of a surface(e.g., a majority of the surface or less than a majority of the surface)of a respective tooth of the patient to be restored, such as, forexample, a lingual, a facial, or an incisal/occlusal surface of arespective tooth. For example, apertures 104 may be configured to alignwith a portion of a lingual and/or a facial surface of a respectivetooth of the patient to be restored. The teeth to be restored are a partof the at least one tooth of the patient with which mold body 102 isconfigured to provide a customized fit. The surface of the tooth to berestored and aligned with the respective apertures 104 may, for example,be defined by existing tooth structure or by the dental restorationformed using mold body 102.

Mold body 102 is configured to combine with the at least one tooth ofthe patient to define a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion ofdesired tooth structure of the tooth or teeth to be restored. Forexample, in the illustrated example, mold body 102 may combine withteeth of the patient to define a mold cavity encompassing at least aportion of desired tooth structure for each of the teeth with facialportions aligning with apertures 104 a and 104 b. In some examples, thedental restoration may include a dental veneer restoration on the toothor teeth to be restored, and apertures 104 a and 104 b may allow apractitioner to have better control over the placement of restorativematerial in the mold cavity than a traditional mold, in whichrestorative material is injected through a small hole and thepractitioner has little or no visibility to the surface of the tooth.For example, apertures 104, which align with a surface of a tooth mayallow a practitioner to have better control over the final appearance ofthat surface, including the final surface texture and/or shading, andmay provide the practitioner to have better control of layering ofrestorative materials.

In some examples, tool 100 may include a second mold body 106, which mayalso be configured to provide a customized fit with the at least onetooth of the patient. Mold body 102 and mold body 106 may be configuredto combine with the at least one tooth of the patient to form the moldcavity. For example, mold body 102 and mold body 106 may be configuredto mate with one another and/or to be attached to the at least one toothto form the mold cavity. In some examples, mold body 106 is separablefrom and engageable with the mold body 102. For example, a clamp 108 mayallow mold body 102 and mold body 106 to easily engage with one anotherand to easily be separated from one another while maintaining theintegrity of the respective mold body. In some examples, mold bodies102, 106 include indicia or alignment features (e.g., visual indicators,mechanical mating features, key holes, notches, and the like) to help apractitioner properly align and easily engage mold body 102 and moldbody 106 with one another.

Each of the apertures 104 has a suitable configuration (e.g., shapeand/or size) for introducing restorative material into a mold cavitydefined by an interior surface of mold body 102 to cover the portion ofthe surface of the tooth to be restored, the interior surface being asurface facing the tooth or teeth to be restored. In addition, each ofapertures 104 has a configuration that enables a practitioner to view ameaningful part of the dental restoration being formed via therestorative material. This may allow the practitioner to have bettercontrol over the appearance of the dental restoration. Instead ofblindly relying on mold body 102 to provide the final shape of thedental restoration, apertures 104 may allow the practitioner to view andmanipulate the restorative material before it is cured. Manipulation ofthe restorative material can include, for example, removal of a portionof the restorative material, application of one or more surface featuresto the restorative material before it is cured, layering of therestorative material colors, and the like.

In some examples in which apertures 104 have a configuration thatenables a practitioner to view a meaningful part of the dentalrestoration being formed, at least one of apertures 104 is configured toalign with at least about 20% of the portion of the surface of the toothto be restored, such as about 20%-80% of the portion of the tooth beingrestored. As an example, at one of apertures 104 may be configured toalign with a portion of a tooth surface that is a majority of thesurface of the tooth to be restored. Thus, in some examples, aperture104 a may be configured to align with a portion comprising a majority ofa facial surface of one tooth, and aperture 104 b may be configured toalign with a portion comprising a majority of a facial surface ofanother tooth.

In other examples, apertures 104 may be configured to align with aportion less than the majority of a surface of a tooth, e.g., whensmaller areas of the tooth are being restored and/or when expected flowof the restorative dental material from outside mold body 102 andthrough apertures 104 to the part of the mold cavity defined by moldbody 102 proximate the tooth surface needing restoration is deemed to besufficient.

In some examples, the shape of one or more of apertures 104 may bedesigned to substantially match the shape of the tooth and/or theportion of the tooth to be restored. For example, apertures 104 may besubstantially noncircular. In other examples, however, the shape of oneor more apertures 104 may be circular.

Apertures 104 may be configured to be larger than a tip of a restorativematerial introduction device that is used to introduce restorativedental material into the mold cavity defined by mold body 102. The tipof the restorative material introduction device may also be referred toas a capsule or a syringe tip, and may refer to the portion of thedevice that is introduced into the aperture. Apertures 104 may besufficiently large to allow placement and flow of restorative materialto cover the portion of the surface of the tooth being restored.Additionally, or alternatively, apertures 104 may be sufficiently largeto allow movement of the tip of the dental material device withinaperture 104 a or 104 b, and/or to allow a practitioner to view thedental restoration as it is being formed. For example, apertures 104 mayhave an area at least about 2 times the greatest cross-sectional area ofa tip of a commercially available restorative material introductiondevice.

An area of an aperture 104 may be measured using any suitable technique.In some examples, the area of aperture 104 may be measured using theperimeter of the respective aperture defined by mold body 102 or may bemeasured digitally, such as, for example, using a software program suchas CAD. For example, using software, the area of aperture 104 may bedetermined using a grid counting method. Using the software, a user maydigitally overlay a grid including squares having known dimensions overaperture 104 and determine the number of squares that are within or makeup the area of the respective aperture 104. The known dimensions of thesquares may then be used to convert the number of squares determinedinto the area of the respective aperture.

In some examples, the cross-sectional area of a tip of a commerciallyavailable restorative material introduction device is determined usingthe outer diameter of the tip of the device. In one example, thecross-sectional area of a tip of a commercially available restorativematerial introduction device may be about 7 mm² and the area of each ofapertures 104 a, 104 b may be about 16 mm². In some examples, a ratio ofthe area of aperture 104 a or 104 b to the cross-sectional area of a tipof a commercially available restorative material introduction device begreater than or equal to about 2:1, such as greater than or equal toabout 3:1, or greater than or equal to about 4:1.

Tips of some commercially available restorative material introductiondevices have an inner diameter between about 0.6 mm and about 2.3 mm andan outer diameter between about 0.90 mm and about 2.7 mm. For example, a3M Filtek Supreme Universal capsule, may have an inner diameter of about2.03 mm and an outer diameter of about 2.41, the 3M Filtek SupremeFlowable syringe tip may have an inner diameter of about 0.60 mm and anouter diameter of about 0.90 mm, and the 3M Filtek Bulk Fill syringe tipmay have an inner diameter of about 0.70 mm and an outer diameter ofabout 1.10 mm. The 3M Filtek products are commercially available by 3MESPE Dental Products in St. Paul, Minn. As other examples, commerciallyavailable devices used to deliver restorative dental material may havean inner diameter of about 1.85 mm and an outer diameter of about 2.30mm, an inner diameter of about 2.20 mm and an outer diameter of about2.70 mm, an inner diameter of about 2.10 mm and an outer diameter ofabout 2.60 mm, an inner diameter of about 1.10 mm and an outer diameterof about 1.60 mm, an inner diameter of about 1.90 mm and an outerdiameter of about 2.50 mm, or an inner diameter of about 2.30 mm and anouter diameter of about 2.60 mm.

In some examples, apertures 104 are each defined by a single, continuouspiece of mold body 102 or 106. For example, either mold body 102 or moldbody 106 may define an entire aperture 104. In some examples, definingan aperture 104 within a single piece of mold body 102 or 106 mayprevent the aperture from including or being formed using a seaminterface between two separate mold body parts. Apertures 104 that aredefined by a single piece of mold body 102 or 106 may help prevent thedental restoration formed using the mold body from including seams orartifacts from mold body 102 or 106. In contrast, a dental restorationformed using apertures that are defined by more than a single piece ofmold body 102 or 106, may include seams or artifacts from the moldbodies 102, 106 due to restorative material curing within the seambetween the two mold bodies.

Additionally, or alternatively, apertures 104 defined by a single pieceof a mold body 102 or 106 may help prevent the part of the one or moremold bodies 102, 106 defining the aperture from becoming separatedduring the introduction of the restorative material into the mold cavitydefined by mold bodies 102 and/or 106 and one or more teeth of thepatient. The introduction of the restorative material into mold cavitymay have enough force to separate parts of mold bodies from each other,thereby providing less of an engagement between mold body 102 and moldbody 106 and/or less of a customized fit with one or more teeth. Thisseparation of parts of mold bodies may result in additional flashforming, which may adversely affect the quality of the formed dentalrestoration and/or increase the time and effort required to form thedental restoration because the practitioner may need to remove the curedflash.

Tool 100 may allow the practitioner greater control in placing therestorative material in the mold cavity defined by the patient's toothstructure and mold bodies 102, 106. For example, tool 100 may allow apractitioner to make adjustments to and/or modifications to theplacement of the restorative material in the mold cavity, and/or mayallow the practitioner to check for bubbles or voids prior to curing,which may not be provided by traditional injection molding. In someexamples, apertures 104 of tool 100 may allow the practitioner to applythe restorative material directly to the tooth to be restored, ratherthan injecting the restorative material, such as through an injectionport. However, in other examples, the practitioner may apply therestorative material to the tooth to be restored or to mold body 102,106 before applying mold bodies 102, 106 over the teeth of the patient.

Apertures 104 may allow the practitioner to visualize the restorativematerial on the tooth more easily than a smaller hole for injectingrestorative material, e.g., an injection port. In contrast to apertures104, an injection port may be sized to be equal to or only slightlylarger than a tip of a commercially available restorative materialintroduction device, such as about 100% to about 125%, such as about100% to about 110% of the cross-sectional area of the tip of therestorative material introduction device. In some examples, an injectionport may be about 0.1 mm in diameter (e.g., about 100 microns) indiameter.

Further, the injection port may have a shape (e.g., circular) thatmatches the shape of the commercially available restorative materialintroduction device. In contrast, as discussed above, apertures 104 maybe configured to be larger (e.g., twice as larger or greater than twotimes the size) than a tip of a restorative material introduction devicethat is used to introduce restorative dental material into the moldcavity defined by mold body 102.

Apertures 104 may allow a practitioner to utilize traditional methodsand techniques for building up a restoration while still providingisolation, wedging and/or shape/contouring guidance. In some examples,the introduction of material via apertures 104 a and 104 b, compared tothrough a relatively small injection port in mold body 102 and/or 106,may minimize the pressure required to introduce restorative materialinto the mold cavity, which may help minimize flashing. For example, theintroduction of material via apertures 104 that are larger than the sizeof a tip of a commercially available restorative material introductiondevice may reduce or even prevent back pressure on the tip of the dentalmaterial introduction device from the mold cavity. The reduced orprevented back pressure may help prevent restorative material fromflowing back in the direction of the restorative material introductiondevice.

Additionally, layering of restorative material having different shadesof color, different translucencies, and/or different mechanicalproperties may be easier with the open mold cavity design provided byapertures 104. Further, in some examples, mold bodies 102, 106 includingapertures 104 may release easier from the dental restoration (comparedto traditional molds that do not include apertures 104, but only includean injection port) due at least in part to a reduced area of surfacecontact between the mold and the restorative material.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of an example door body 200 thatmay be a part of a tool for forming a dental restoration. In someexamples, door body 200 may be used in conjunction with a tool such asthe tool 100 of FIG. 1. Door body 200 may correspond to the portion ofthe surface of the tooth to be restored and at least a portion of doorbody 200 may be configured to mate with an aperture defined by tool 100and aligned with that surface. For example, at least a portion of doorbody 200, such as mating portion 202, may be configured to mate withaperture 104 a and/or aperture 104 b to form the mold cavity. Matingportion 202 may be, for example, a bevel edge of door body 200 thathelps aid the insertion of door body 200 in an aperture 104 a, 104 b,such as by guiding door body 200 into the respective aperture.

When door body 200 is mated with a respective aperture 104 a or 104 b,surface 204 of the door body 200 facing the mold cavity defined by moldbody 102 and a tooth structure of a patient may help shape therestorative material that is in the mold cavity, e.g., in order todefine the surface of the tooth to be restored.

In some examples, door body 200 includes at least one protrusion 206,which is a structure that aids the use of door 200. For example,protrusion 206 may be configured to provide a handle or a grippingmechanism for a practitioner, e.g., the hand of the practitioner or atool manipulated by the practitioner, and/or ease the mating of doorbody 200 with aperture 104 a, 104 b. In this way, mating door body 200with aperture 104 a, 104 b may be facilitated by gripping protrusion206. Protrusion 206 may include gripping features in some examples, suchas ribs 208. Ribs 208 may ease the handling of door body 200 by thepractitioner, e.g., may prevent the hand of the practitioner or a toolmanipulated by the practitioner from slipping from protrusion 206.

Integrated grips provided by protrusion 206 may increase the ease of useof any of the door bodies described herein. For example, protrusion 206may allow a practitioner to easily identify the points on the door bodyto use for placing and removing the door body, making use of the doorbodies more intuitive. Protrusion 206 may also provide securement of thecomponents (e.g., to reduce the possibility that the door body to whichthe protrusion is attached is not dropped), and may also provideleverage for removing after the restorative material has been cured.

In some examples, door body 200 may be physically separate from(unconnected to) mold body 102. In these examples, a practitioner mayfreely move door body 200 relative to apertures 104 a, 104 b and placedoor body 200 in the respective aperture 104 by bringing door body 104into alignment with aperture 104 from any suitable angle. In otherexamples, however, door body 200 and mold body 102 are mechanicallyconnected to each other, such as by using a hinge. For example, doorbody 200 and mold body 102 may be connected via a snap hinge, a livinghinge, a barrel hinge, a pin joint hinge, or any other suitable type ofhinge. An example of a hinge connection between a door body and a moldbody is described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

In some examples, to reduce the likelihood of trapping air duringstamping of the restorative material within the mold cavity with doorbody 200, a release film (e.g., polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), plasticwrap (e.g., Saran Wrap made available by SC Johnson of Racine, Wis.),which can be formed from polyvinylidene chloride or another releasablematerial) may be placed on surface 204 of door body 200, which may begently pressed into the respective aperture 104 a or 104 b to distributethe restorative material in the mold cavity, resulting in a near-netshaping of the material. Door body 200 may then be released, the linerremoved, and door body 200 reapplied to create a final shape.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of another example door body 300,which is similar to the door body 200 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, butincludes a flanged portion 302. Flanged portion 302 may be configured tooverlay at least a portion of mold body 102 adjacent aperture 104 a or104 b and outside the aperture to provide a seal between door body 300and mold body 102 and to act as a stop to prevent door body 300 frombeing inserted too far into the respective aperture. In some cases,inserting door body 300 too far into the respective aperture maynegatively impact the contour of the restoration.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of another example door body 310 and FIG.4B is a back view of example tool 312 for forming a dental restoration.Tool 312 includes door body 310 and a mold body 314. In FIG. 4B, doorbody 310 is inserted in aperture 328 defined by mold body 314. Mold body314 and aperture 328 may be similar to mold body 102 and aperture 104 aor 104 b of FIG. 1. However, in the example shown in FIG. 4B, mold body314 and door body 310 are mechanically connected to each other via doorhinge 316.

Door body 310 is similar to door body 200 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, butincludes a chamfered edge 320, which, when inserted in aperture 328, isconfigured to define a predictable location for cured flash to fracturefrom the dental restoration. Chamfered edge 320 may help preventchipping or other damage to a surface of the dental restoration formedusing door body 310 and mold body 314, such as by defining a locationfor the flash to cure. Chamfered edge 320 may result in cured flashfracturing superficially, e.g., away from the cured restorativematerial.

Chamfered edge 320 is a surface of door body 310 positioned betweensurface 322 and mating portion 324 of door body 310. In some examples,chamfered edge 320 is a surface of door body 310 that is oriented at anon-perpendicular angle to a major surface of surface 322 and matingportion 324 of door body 310. For example, chamfered edge 320 may beoriented at an angle to a major surface of surface 322 and/or matingportion 324 of door body 310 of between about 1 degree and about 89degrees, such as between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees. Surface322 is configured to contact the restorative material within the moldcavity defined by mold body 314 when door body 310 is introduced intoaperture 328 and mating portion 324 is at least partially engaged withthe part of mold body 314 defining aperture 328. In other examples,chamfered edge 320 may be part of surface 322 and/or mating portion 324of the door body 310.

As shown in FIG. 4B, when door body 310 is mated with and insertedinside of aperture 328 (e.g., fully inserted in aperture 328, to theextent allowed by the geometry of door body 310 and mold body 314),chamfered edge 320 and mold body 314 define a channel 326 between theside of mold body 314 forming aperture 328 and surface 322 of door body310. In some examples, cured flash may form in channel 326. Due to theconfiguration of channel 326, such as the relatively shallow depth ofchannel 326, the cured flash formed in channel 326 fracture from theformed dental restoration superficially, e.g., away from the curedrestorative material. In some examples, door body 310 defining chamferededge 320 may allow the cured flash to form in a predictable location,e.g., within channel 326, which in turn may provide a predictablefracture location of the cured flash. Additionally, or alternatively,the formation of cured flash within channel 326 may prevent chipping ordamage to the restorative dental material, such as, for example, incomparison to some door bodies that do not define a channel with a moldbody when mated with the mold body.

Door hinge 316 mechanically connects door body 310 and mold body 314, aswell as helps maintain alignment door body 310 and mold body 314 duringuse of tool 312. Door hinge 316 may have any suitable configuration,such as, but not limited to, a snap hinge, a living hinge, a barrelhinge, or a pin joint hinge. Door hinge 316 may help ensure that thecorrect door body 310 is used with the corresponding aperture 328. Forexample, a manufacturer may preconnect door body 310 to mold body 314via door hinge 316, such that a practitioner may not need to attach doorbody 310 to mold body 314. In other examples, however, the practitionermay attach door body 310 to mold body 314 via door hinge 316. In someexamples in which door hinge 316 is formed by a hinge part connected todoor body 310 and another hinge part connected to mold body 314, doorbody 310 and mold body 314 may include one or more indicia or alignmentfeatures to help match-up and align a door body 310 to the correspondingaperture 328 to connect the corresponding hinge parts to form door hinge316. The indicia or alignment features may be, for example, thosedescribed above with respect to mold bodies 102, 106 of FIG. 1 and thosedescribed with respect to mold bodies 502, 506, and door bodies 508 a,508 b of FIGS. 6A-6C.

Door hinge 316 may be formed separate from door body 310 and/or moldbody 314, or door hinge 316 may be formed as an integral part of doorbody 310 and/or mold body 314. In some examples, door hinge 316 mayincrease the ease of use of tool 312 (e.g., reducing the trainingrequired to use tool 312). For example, rather than a practitionerapplying door body 310 to mold body 314 in an idiosynractic manner, doorhinge 316 may provide for door body 310 to be placed in a specificlocation or orientation relative to mold body 314. In some examples,door hinge 316 may also allow for mold body 314 and door body 310 to bemoved and/or placed together, e.g., without door body 310 becomingseparated from mold body 314.

Door hinge 316 is configured to allow door body 310 to rotate relativeto mold body 314 about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation isoriented such that door body 310 may rotate (e.g., pivot) to be insertedwithin aperture 328 (a “closed” position) or to be outside of aperture328 (an “open” position). In the open position of door body 310, apractitioner may access the mold cavity defined by mold body 314 and oneor more teeth of the patient, such as to manipulate restorative materialintroduced into the mold cavity by the practitioner. In some suchexamples, the range of rotation of door hinge 316 about an axis may belimited by the configuration and/or placement of door hinge 316 withrespect to door body 310 and mold body 314. For example, door body 310attached to mold body 314 via door hinge 316 may not be able to rotate360° about an axis of rotation due to the presence of mold body 314.

In some examples, door hinge 316 may bias door body 310 in the closedposition and/or the opened position, or both, depending on the positionof door body 310 relative to mold body 314. For example, door hinge 316may be a spring-loaded hinge.

Door hinge 316 may be used in combination with any of the example toolsdescribed herein. For example, some examples any of the tools describedherein that include a door body and a mold body configured to matetogether may include a hinge for mechanically connecting the door bodyand the mold body.

In addition to or instead of door hinge 316, one or more othermechanical features can be used to assist in the alignment of mold body314 and door body 310, such as, but not limited to, sliders, guides,bevels, chamfers, and the like. For example, mold body 314 and/or doorbody 310 may include a slider feature that acts a guide for door body310, such as to allow door body 310 to slide along an edge of aperture328 and guide door body 310 along mold body 314 to mate with aperture328.

FIG. 5 is a front view of another example tool 400 for forming a dentalrestoration that includes the mold bodies 102 and 106 of FIG. 1, thedoor body 200 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, and the door body 300 of FIGS. 3A and3B. The door bodies 200 and 300 are each readily separable from andengageable with the mold body 102. For example, in the illustratedexample, each of the door bodies 200 and 300 are shown engaged with moldbody 102. As shown in FIG. 5, door bodies having differentconfigurations (e.g., sizes, shapes, and the like) may be used with thesame mold body.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a perspective and side cross-sectional views ofanother example tool 500 for forming a dental restoration. FIG. 6B is across-sectional view of the tool 500 taken along the line “6B” of FIG.6A. The tool 500 may include first mold body 502, similar to first moldbody 102 of FIGS. 1 and 4, which may define apertures 504 a and 504 b,similar to the apertures 104 a and 104 b of FIG. 1, a second mold body506, similar to the second mold body 106 of FIGS. 1 and 4, door bodies508 a and 508 b, similar to the example door bodies 200 and 300 of FIGS.2A-4. In the illustrated example, door body 508 a defines a vent 510,which may be an opening positioned within door body 508 a, within moldbody 502, partially within the mold body 502 and door body 508 a, orcombinations thereof. In some examples, vent 510 may be configured toallow excess restorative material to flow out of a mold cavity 520,which may be removed prior to curing (e.g., with a scalar instrument),providing for easier removal of flash. Alternatively, or in addition,vent 510 may be configured to allow air to flow out of the mold cavity.

In some examples, vent 510 may be configured such that vent 510 isdrafted towards the dental restoration in order to reduce mechanicalinterlocking between tool 500 and the formed dental restoration (formedby curing the restorative material within mold cavity 520 of mold body502). In some such examples, vent 510 may not be uniform in size. Forexample, vent 510 may decrease in cross-sectional area in a directionfrom mold cavity 520 to the outer surface of mold body 502 and/or doorbody 508. The decrease in cross-section area of vent 510 in thedirection away from mold cavity 520 may help prevent restorativematerial from remaining in vent 510. For example, if restorativematerial enters vent 510, the restorative material may flow out of vent510 away from mold cavity 520. If restorative material remains in vent510 when curing, the cured material may provide mechanical locking withthe formed dental restoration, and tool 500 may become difficult toremove. By drafting vent 510 towards the restoration, e.g., as shown inFIG. 6B, such that the vent 510 has a larger cross-section proximate tothe dental restoration than the outer surface of mold body 502,mechanical interlocking may be reduced, the tool 500 may be more easilybe removed from a formed dental restoration, and the possibility ofadversely affecting the integrity of the restoration may be reduced.

Drafting vent 510 towards the formed restoration may also provide apredictable fracture of the cured flash superficially, e.g., in adirection away from the cured restorative material. In this way,drafting the vent 510 towards the restoration may provide easier removalof the cured flash.

In some examples, aperture 504 a and aperture 504 b may be differentshapes and door body 508 a and door body 508 b may be different shapes.The shape of door body 508 a may correspond to the shape of aperture 504a and the shape of door body 508 b may correspond to the shape ofaperture 504 b. In this way, apertures 504 a, 504 b may be configured tomate with only the door intended to be used with the respectiveaperture. This may help reduce user error, e.g., if placement of theincorrect door in aperture 504 a, 504 b would result in a malformeddental restoration, e.g., because of the way the door body pushes therestorative material in the mold cavity or because door bodies 508 a,508 b are configured to provide surface features or the like to thedental restoration. In other examples, the aperture 504 a and theaperture 504 b may be the same shape and the door body 508 a and thedoor body 508 b may be the same shape, such that door bodies 508 a, 508b may mate with either aperture 504 a, 504 b.

In some examples, one or more of mold body 502, mold body 506, door body508 a, or door body 508 b, and/or any of the example mold bodies or doorbodies described herein, may include one or more indicia forfacilitating one or more of mating door body 508 a with aperture 504 aor mating door body 508 b with aperture 504 b (or mating the door bodywith the respective aperture in any of the examples described herein),mating mold body 502 with mold body 506, and/or positioning one or moreof mold body 502, mold body 506, door body 508 a, or door body 508 bwith respect to one any of the other components and/or with respect tothe teeth of the patient. For example, the indicia may provideinformation to aid a practitioner in correctly mating door body 508 awith aperture 504 a instead of attempting to mate door body 508 a withaperture 504 b. As another example, the indicia may aid the practitionerin correctly orienting door body 508 a relative to aperture 504 a. Asanother example, the indicia may provide information to aid apractitioner in correctly positioning mold body 502 and/or mold body 506with respect to the teeth and/or with respect to one another.

In the illustrated example, the indicia may include one or more keystructures, such as key structures 512 a-512 e of door body 508 a, andone or more corresponding keyholes, such as keyholes 514 a-514 e definedby mold body 502. For example, the practitioner may align each of keystructures 512 a-512 e with a corresponding keyhole 514 a-514 e toensure that door body 508 a is correctly oriented relative to aperture504 a. While, in the illustrated example, key structures 512 a-512 e andcorresponding keyholes 514 a-514 e appear to be similarly shapedoriented around about door body 508 a as those of door body 508 b, insome examples, door bodies 508 a and 508 b may include key structureswith different shapes and/or locations such that key structures of onedoor body 508 will clearly be corresponding with key holes about oneaperture or the other such that the key structures and keyholes willhelp the practitioner to identify which door body 508 corresponds towhich aperture 504.

Alternatively, or in addition to key structures and keyholes, othervisual or physical indicia may be used to help a practitioner correctlymatch a door body to a corresponding aperture. Other indicia mayinclude, for example, color coding, symbols, markings, and/or any othersuitable indicia or combination thereof. For example, door body 508 amay include one or more colors or symbols that match the color or symbolassociated with corresponding aperture 504 a (e.g., printed on mold body502 next to aperture 504 a and/or lining a portion of mold body 502proximate aperture 504 a and/or inside aperture 504 a and/or indicatingorientation relative to aperture 504, e.g., one color and/or symbolindicating the top and/or another indicating the bottom including, forexample, one color printed on a top of door body 508 a and on mold body502 next to the top of respective aperture 504 a and/or lining a portionof mold body 502 proximate the top of respective aperture 504 a and/orinside the top of aperture 504 a and another color). As another example,one of more of door body 508 a, door body 508 b, or mold body 502 mayinclude other markings indicating which door body 508 corresponds towhich aperture 504 and/or the correct orientation of door body 508 withrespect to corresponding aperture 504. For example, similar to keystructures and key holes, notches (physical or printed) may be marked ator near the perimeter of door body 508 a and/or 508 b as well as aboutor along an inner surface of apertures 504 a and/or 504 b and apractitioner knows to align notches on corresponding door bodies 508 andapertures 504.

As another example, colored lines or other indicia may be formed on ornear an interproximal edge mold body 502 and/or mold body 506 to assistthe practitioner in placement of the respective mold body on the teeth.For example, the indicia may be used to prevent or provide indication ofupside-down placement of the mold body.

As another example, an inner surface of either or both of apertures 504may be distinguished from other portions of mold body 502 by coloring orother indicia that is distinct from adjacent portions of mold body 502.This may allow a practitioner to more easily see the perimeter of theaperture 504 to aid in correct placement of respective door body 508.

The indicia discussed herein may be integrated into the respective moldcomponents or may be separate from and applied to a mold component. Forexample, the markings may be 3D components that are an integratedfeature of the mold design, the colorings may be a color of the materialused to form portions the mold component, and/or the markings and/orcoloring may be applied to a surface of the mold component using ink orany suitable material.

In some examples, tool 500 may include a release film (e.g., PTFE, SaranWrap or another releasable material) configured for placement on one ormore surfaces of door body 508 a and/or 508 b, including, for example, asurface facing mold cavity 520 when respective door body 508 a or 508 bis placed in respective aperture 504 a or 504 b, to facilitate releaseof restorative material from the surface of the door body 508 a and/or508 b. For example, a practitioner can apply the release film on one orboth door bodies 508 a, 508 b prior to bringing the door bodies intocontact with restorative material in cavity 520 and exposed viaapertures 504 a, 504 b. In addition to, or instead of the release film,tool 500 may include a coating on one or more surfaces of door body 508a and/or 508 b to facilitate release of restorative material from thesurface of door body 508 a and/or 508 b. The coating can be, forexample, a lubricious coating.

In some examples, tool 500 may include one or more additional doorbodies 508 corresponding to one or more of the apertures 504. That is,one aperture 504 may be used with multiple doors. For example, multipledoor bodies, including door body 508 a, may correspond to aperture 504a. Each door body for a particular aperture 504 may provide a differentfunction. For example, door body 508 a may be configured for one or moreof final shaping or final layering of at least a portion of the dentalrestoration and tool 500 may include additional door bodies for use inintermediate layering and/or shaping of the dental restoration. At leasta portion of each of the additional door bodies may be configured tomate with aperture 504 a. For example, an additional door body may beconfigured for shaping an underlying shade layer of at least the portionof the dental restoration. As another example, an additional door bodymay be configured to form one or more mamelons, one or more grooves, orand/or one or more pits on the dental restoration. For example, thesurface of the door body that faces the cavity when the door is appliedto the mold body may define one or more physical features (e.g., one ormore mamelons, one or more grooves, or and/or one or more pits) forforming in the dental restoration.

As an additional example, an additional door body may be configured fornear net shaping of at least the portion of the dental restoration.Forming the restorative material in a near net shape may allow apractitioner to determine whether any changes to the color of the dentalrestoration are desirable before curing. In this way, the door body thatprovides for near net shaping of a restorative material prior to curingmay increase the workability of the restorative material.

As another example, an additional door body may be configured forapplying an intermediate layer of restorative material. The intermediatelayer of restorative material may comprise restorative material that isdifferent than a material applied during final layering using door body508 a. Tool 500 may include any suitable number of door bodies accordingto particular needs.

As shown in FIG. 6C, in some examples, door body 508 a or 508 b may beattached to mold body 502 via a respective door hinge 516. As with doorhinge 316 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, door hinge 516 may mechanicallyconnect and align door bodies 508 a, 508 b and mold body 502, therebyreducing the degrees of freedom of door body 508 b in which door body508 b may move with respect to mold body 502. In addition, door hinge516 may help ensure that the correct door body 508 a, 508 b is used withthe corresponding aperture 504 a, 504 b, respectively. Door hinge 516may be similar to door hinge 316. For example, door hinge 516 may beformed separate from door body 508 b and/or mold body 502, or door hinge516 may be formed as an integral part of door body 508 b and/or moldbody 502. In some examples, door hinge 316 may be a snap hinge, a livinghinge, a barrel hinge, or a pin joint hinge.

In some examples, mold bodies 502 and 506 may engage with one anothervia a clamp 518. Clamp 518 includes two or more parts that interlocktogether in order to engage mold bodies 502 and 506. For example, moldbody 502 may include a first part of clamp 518 and mold body 506 mayinclude a second part of clamp 518 which is configured to mechanicallyinterlock with the first part of clamp 518 to secure mold bodies 502,506 to each other in a tight-fitting relationship, such that seamsbetween mold bodies 502, 506 are closed and restorative material may becontained within a mold cavity defined by mold bodies 502, 506 and oneor more teeth of the patient. The first and second parts of clamp 518may be separate from each other (e.g., free floating relative to eachother) or may be mechanically connected together.

In some examples, clamp 518 may be configured to interlock using ahinge-like mechanism. In other examples, first and second parts of clamp518 may rest against one another without mechanically interlocking. Insome examples, clamp 518, or more specifically, a part of clamp 518, maybe configured to rotate or slightly rotate about an axis of rotation. Insome such examples, the range of rotation of clamp 518 about an axis maybe limited by the configuration and/or placement of clamp 518 withrespect to mold body 502 and/or mold body 506. For example, mold body502 attached to mold body 506 via clamp 518 may not be able to fullyrotate about an axis of rotation due to the presence of mold body 506.Additionally, or alternatively, mold bodies 502, 506 may engage witheach other via a hinge, a clip, or another structure configured tomechanically connect and engage adjacent mold bodies 502 and 506 witheach other. In another example, mold bodies 502, 506 may be configuredto engage with each other via a snap fit or other interlocking mechanismthat does not allow for relative rotational movement between mold bodies502, 506. When the mold bodies 502, 506 combine with at least one toothof the patient to form a mold cavity, clamp 518 is configured to be atleast proximate an incisal edge of at least one of the tooth or teeth tobe restored.

In the example shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, clamp 518 is located proximatean incisal edge of a tooth or teeth to be restored when mold bodies 502,506 are positioned over one or more teeth of a patient. In cases inwhich an incisal edge is being formed by a mold tool such as tool 500,the incisal edge may be a likely place to experience flash formation.Clamp 518 may help ensure a relatively tight fit between the mold bodies502, 506 to help reduce or eliminate the flash that occurs along thisedge. Any flash that does occur may be very thin along the incisal edgeand may be relatively easily removed with a dental instrument. In otherexamples, however, clamp 518 may be proximate another surface of a toothwhen mold bodies 502, 506 are positioned over one or more teeth of thepatient, and may help reduce or eliminate the flash at that otherlocation.

By providing a relatively tight fit along the incisal edge or anotheredge of mold bodies 502, 506, clamp 518 may help excess restorativematerial preferentially flow toward vent 510 where flash may berelatively easily seen and removed during finishing of the restoration.

In some examples, clamp 518 may help mold bodies 502, 506 self-alignwith each other and stay fixed relatively to each other. These featuresmay increase the ease of use of tool 500. For example, clamp 518 mayhelp ensure that the corresponding mold bodies 502, 506 are used witheach other. Clamp 518 may also allow for mold body 502 and mold body 506to be moved and/or placed together, e.g., without mold bodies 502, 506becoming separated from each other. Clamp 518 may be formed separatefrom the mold bodies 502, 506 and connected to the mold bodies 502, 506,or clamp 518 may be formed by clamp parts that are integral with each ofmold bodies 502, 506.

Clamp 518 may be used in combination with any of the example toolsdescribed herein. For example, any of the mold bodies described hereinmay include a clamp for engaging with another mold body, according toparticular needs.

In some examples, one or more door bodies 508 a, 508 b may include aprotrustion extending in a direction away from mold body 502 when doorbodies 508 a, 508 b are inserted in respective apertures 504 a, 504 n.The protrusions may be configured to provide a handle or a grippingmechanism for a practitioner, e.g., the hand of the practitioner or atool manipulated by the practitioner, to grasp the respective doorbodies 508 a, 508 b. An example protrusion 522 a is shown in FIGS. 6Aand 6C. Door body 508 a includes protrusion 522 a, such that mating doorbody 508 a with aperture 504 a may be facilitated by gripping protrusion522 a. In some examples, protrusion 522 a includes gripping featuressuch as ribs 524. Ribs 524 may increase the friction between apractitioner's tool or hand and may help prevent the hand of thepractitioner or a tool manipulated by the practitioner from slippingfrom protrusion 522 a.

In addition to or instead of some examples, providing a handle or agripping mechanism for a practitioner, a protrusion extending away froma door body may define a structure configured to mate with at least aportion of a clamp or another dental instrument. For example, as shownin FIG. 6A, door body 508 b may include protrusion 522 b that defines astructure configured to mate with at least a portion (e.g., the end orend portion) of a clamp that applies clamping pressure to door body 508b in a direction towards mold body 502 when door body 508 b in insertedin aperture 504 b. Clamping pressure may help excess restorativematerial preferentially flow toward vent 510 and toward more accessibleand less critical areas of the tooth, such as the incisal edge, whereflash may be relatively easily seen and removed during finishing of therestoration. In some examples, a clamp in protrusion 522 b may hold doorbody 508 b within aperture 504 b. Protrusion 522 b may allow for easyand stable placement of a clamp.

Integrated grips provided by protrusion 522 a and/or clamping mechanismsprovided by protrusion 522 b may increase the ease of use of any of doorbodies 508 a, 508 b. For example, protrusions 522 may allow apractitioner to easily identify the points on the door body 508 a, 508 bto use for placing and removing the door body and/or attaching a clampto door body 508 a, 508 b, making use of the door bodies more intuitive.Protrusions 522 may also provide securement of the components (e.g., toreduce the possibility that the door body to which the protrusion isattached is not dropped or to secure the door body to the mold body),and may also provide leverage for removing after the restorativematerial has been cured.

In some examples, mold body 502, 506 may include one or more protrusions526 configured to mate with at least a portion of a clamp that alsoengages with a door body. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, protrusions526 may each define a structure configured to mate with at least aportion (e.g., the end or end portion) of a clamp or another dentalinstrument used to place, align, secure, manipulate, or release the moldbody. In addition to or instead of a protrusion, in some examples, oneor both mold bodies 502, 506 (as well as other mold bodies or doorbodies described herein) may define recessed features that can be usedto locate a clamp, receive a gripper, or provide an alignment feature.

The integrated clamping locations provided by protrusions 526 may allowfor the easy and stable placement of a clamp, with the ability tooptimize the placement of the clamp for desired force distribution. Forexample, using digital design, a tool designer, manually or with the aidof software, may select the locations of protrusions 526 based on thepressure points that will result from placing the clamp at theparticular locations.

Further, building in clamping locations in mold bodies 502, 506 viaprotrusions 526 may help reduce variability of the amount of clampingpressure applied to mold bodies 502, 506 frompractitioner-to-practitioner, and may increase the ease of use of tool500 (e.g., reducing the training required to use tool 500). Rather thana practitioner applying clamps to mold bodies 502, 506 in anidiosynractic manner, the integrated clamping locations provided byprotrusions 526 may provide for relatively uniform clamping in a known,specific location (e.g., as compared to hand clamping).

FIGS. 7A-7G illustrate steps of an example method of using the tool 400of FIG. 5 to form a dental restoration. A practitioner may place moldbody 106 over at least one tooth of a patient, the at least one toothbeing the site for the desired dental structure to be formed using tool400, or being near the site for the desired dental structure to beformed. In the example shown in FIG. 7A, the at least one tooth includestwo teeth 602 a and 602 b, but can include one tooth or more than twoteeth in other examples.

The practitioner may also position mold body 102 over the teeth andattach mold body 102 to teeth 602 a and 602 b, such as by engaging moldbody 102 with mold body 106. In some examples, the practitioner may useadditional fixation structures to connect mold bodies 102, 106. Forexample, the practitioner may engage one or more clamps 604 a and 604 bwith respective portions of mold bodies 102 and 106 (FIG. 7B). Theseportions of mold bodies 102, 106 may, for example, be configured toreceive and engage with clamps 604 a, 604 b in a relatively tight fitsuch that clamps 604 a, 604 b stay in place relative to mold bodies 102,106.

The practitioner may introduce restorative material into a mold cavitydefined by mold bodies 102, 106 and the teeth 602 a, 602 b around whichmold bodies 102, 106 are positioned using any suitable technique. Insome examples, the practitioner may fill the mold cavity withrestorative material by introducing the restorative material through oneor more of apertures 104 a and 104 b and into the mold cavity (FIG. 7C).For example, the practitioner may use a tool such as restorativematerial introduction device 606, to place the restorative material intothe mold cavity. As shown in FIG. 7C, a tip of the device 606 may be atleast partially introduced into aperture 104 a in order to introduce therestorative material into the mold cavity. In some examples, restorativematerial 608 may be placed in the mold cavity through multipleapertures, including aperture 104 a and 104 b (FIG. 7D).

In addition to or instead of using restorative material introductiondevice 606, the practitioner may introduce restorative material 608 intothe mold cavity by fully or partially prefilling the mold cavity withrestorative material 608 before placement of the mold body 102 and/or106 over teeth 602 a, 602 b and/or by placing restorative material 608on teeth 602 a and 602 b and then subsequently placing mold bodies 102and/or 106 over the teeth 602 a and 602 b and restorative material 608.

After at least some restorative material 608 is introduced into the moldcavity, the practitioner may place at least a portion of each of doorbodies 200, 300 within the corresponding apertures 104 a and 104 b (FIG.7E). The door bodies 200, 300 may be used to shape one or more layers ofrestorative material 608 on the surface of the tooth, to compressrestorative material 608 within the mold cavity, or any combinationthereof. In some examples, the door bodies 200, 300 may shape one ormore layers of restorative material on the lingual or facial surface ofthe tooth.

In some examples, the practitioner may cure the restorative material608, either while the door bodies 300 and 200 are mated in the mold body102 or after removing one or more of the door bodies 300 and 200. Forexample, in examples in which the restorative material is light curable,the practitioner may expose the restorative material to the curing light(e.g., a blue light) through one or both of the mold bodies 102, 106,which may be formed of a material transparent to the curing light. Thepractitioner may remove the door bodies 300 and 200 and the mold bodies102 and 106 from the teeth 602 a and 602 b, which now have restoredstructure defined by the restorative material (FIG. 6F). Removing themold bodies 102 and 106 may include separating the mold body 102 fromthe mold body 106, which may include, for example, disengaging one ormore clamps 604 a and 604 b with portions of each of mold bodies 102 and106. In some examples, the one or more of the door bodies 300 or 200 mayleave “witness marks” on the lingual or facial surface of the tooth, butsuch marks may be relatively easily removable because they arerelatively thin. In some examples, the practitioner may finish the teeth602 a and 602 b, which now include restored dental structure defined bythe restorative material, such as by polishing, to remove flash or otherundesired surface imperfections (FIG. 6G).

In some examples, the practitioner may place a release film on at leasta portion of a surface of door body 200, 300 before placing the at leasta portion of door body 200, 300 within respective aperture 104 a and/or104 b. The release film may reduce the likelihood of trapping air withinthe mold cavity during stamping of the restorative material with doorbody 200, 300 and/or may facilitate release of restorative material 608from the surface of door body 200, 300. The practitioner may remove theat least a portion of door body 200, 300 from respective aperture 104 aand/or 104 b, remove the release film from the at least a portion of thesurface or surfaces, place additional restorative material throughaperture 104 a and/or 104 b and into the mold cavity, and place the atleast a portion of door body 200, 300 (or, in some examples, a differentdoor body) within respective aperture 104 a and/or 104 b. In someexamples, door body 200, 300 may be removed from respective aperture 104a and/or 104 b and remain connected to mold body 102. For example, doorbody 200, 300 may be connected to mold body 102 via a door hinge (e.g.,door hinge 316 shown in FIG. 4B) and may be removed from the respectiveaperture 104 a and/or 104 b while remaining connected to mold body 102via the door hinge.

In addition to, or instead of, the release film, in some examples, thepractitioner may apply a coating on at least a portion of a surface ofthe door body 200, 300 intended to contact the restorative materialbefore placing the at least a portion of door body 200, 300 withinrespective aperture 104 a and/or 104 b. The coating may reduce thelikelihood of trapping air within the mold cavity during stamping ofrestorative material 608 with door body 200, 300 and/or may facilitaterelease of restorative material from the surface of door body 200, 300.The practitioner may subsequently remove the at least a portion of doorbody 200, 300 from respective aperture 104 a and/or 104 b, placeadditional restorative material 608 through aperture 104 a and/or 104 band into the mold cavity, and place the at least a portion of door body200, 300 (or, in some examples, a different door body) within respectiveaperture 104 a and/or 104 b. Release coatings may also be applied to anyof the mold components during the manufacturing process. The coating maybe removable or non-removable from the mold component by thepractitioner. For example, in some examples, a practitioner may removethe coating after using door body 200, 300 to place restorative material608.

In some examples, placement of the at least a portion of door body 200,300 within respective aperture 104 a and/or 104 b provides one or moreof final shaping or layering of at least a portion of the dentalrestoration. The method shown in FIGS. 7A-7G may further include placingone or more additional door bodies within aperture 104 a and/or 104 b toshape an underlying shade layer, form one or more structures such asmamelons, grooves, and/or pits, to provide near net shaping, and/or toprovide an intermediate layer of restorative material.

For example, in the method shown in FIGS. 7A-7G, a practitioner mayintroduce a first layer of restorative material through aperture 104 aand/or 104 b and into the mold cavity, place a first door body withinrespective aperture 104 a and/or 104 b to form a first layer of thedental restoration, cure the first layer of restorative material, removethe door body from respective aperture 104 a and/or 104 b, place asecond layer of restorative material through aperture 104 a and/or 104 band into the mold cavity, and then place a second door body withinrespective aperture 104 a and/or 104 b, and cure the second layer ofrestorative material to form a second layer of the dental restoration.Any suitable number of door bodies may be used to place additionallayers of restorative material including, for example, different shade(color and/or translucency) layers and/or different mechanical propertylayers, to form structures, to provide near-net shaping, and/or toprovide final shaping and/or layering. In some examples, two or more ofthe restorative materials are different materials. In addition, orinstead, in some examples, two or more of the restorative materials arethe same material.

Alternatively, or in addition, the practitioner may introduce a firstrestorative material through the aperture 104 a and/or 104 b and intothe mold cavity, place a first door body within respective aperture 104a and/or 104 b to form the dental restoration, cure the firstrestorative material, remove the door body from respective aperture 104a and/or 104 b, remove mold body 102 and/or 106, manually adjust or“cut-back” the dental restoration to create an underlying geometry, andthen replace mold bodies 102, 106 over teeth 602 a, 602 b, and repeatthe molding process (including curing) with additional restorativematerial over the first restorative material to form the dentalrestoration. Any suitable number of door bodies, mold bodies, andrestorative materials (with appropriate intermittent cure steps for eachrestorative material) may be used to place additional layers ofrestorative material including, for example, different shade layersand/or layers having different mechanical properties, to formstructures, to provide near-net shaping, and/or to provide final shapingand/or layering. In some examples, two or more of the restorativematerials are different materials.

In some examples, the same door body may be used to provide multiplefunctions. For example, the same door body may be used to apply anintermediate layer of restorative material and/or form structures. Inother examples, different door bodies may be used for one or morefunctions, e.g., each function described above or two or more of thefunctions described above. When different door bodies are used for aparticular aperture, the doors may be numbered or otherwise labeled toindicate the sequence in which the doors may be used. Any suitablecombination of door bodies, each for providing one or more functions,may be used to achieve the desired dental restoration characteristics.

In some examples, at least one of mold body 102, mold body 106, doorbody 200, 300 may define at least one protrusion, such as theprotrusions 610 a and 610 b defined by mold body 102 shown in FIGS.7B-7E. In some examples, protrusion 610 a, 610 b may be configured toprovide a gripping mechanism for a practitioner, e.g., the hand of thepractitioner or a tool manipulated by the practitioner. At least one ofattaching mold body 102 and/or 106 to teeth 602 a and/or 602 b, placingat least the portion of door body 200, 300 within respective aperture104 a and/or 104 b, or removing door body 200, 300, mold body 102,and/or 106 from teeth 602 a and/or 602 b may be facilitated by grippingthe at least one protrusion 610 a, 610 b.

For example, a practitioner may grip one or more of protrusion 610 a,610 b to attach mold body 102 to teeth 602 a and/or 602 b and/or toremove mold body 102 from teeth 602 a and/or 602 b. In some examples,protrusion 610 a, 610 b may define a structure configured to mate withat least a portion of a clamp and the method may further comprise matingat least the portion of the clamp with the structure. For example, asshown in FIGS. 7B-7E, protrusions 610 a and 610 b may each define astructure configured to mate with at least a portion (e.g., the ends orend portions) of clamp 604 a or 604 b and the method may furthercomprise mating portions of clamps 604 a and 604 with the structures ofthe respective protrusions 610 a and 610 b.

In some examples, one or more protrusions 610 a, 610 b may define atleast one lever configured to provide a mechanism for use in prying therespective mold body 102 or mold body 106 away from the one or moreteeth around which it is positioned. A practitioner may, for example,remove mold body 102 or mold body 106 from the at least one tooth usingthe lever to apply force to pry mold body 102 or mold body 106 away fromthe tooth to be restored. In this way, in some examples, a practitionermay use protrusion 610 a and/or 610 b to move mold body 102 relative toteeth 602 a and 602 b. In addition to, or alternatively to, protrusions610 a, 610 b, indentations may provide mating or movability features formold body 102 and/or 106. For example, mold body 102 and/or 106 mayinclude indentations configured to mate with at least a portion of aclamp.

In addition to the advantages of tool 100 of FIG. 1, inclusion of thecontoured door bodies of FIGS. 2A-7E may allow for shaping/contouringwith use of a contoured surface of the door body designed to mate withthe respective aperture. The fit between the door body and respectiveaperture may be close-fit, such that the door body substantially covers(e.g., completely covers or nearly covers) the aperture. The insidesurface of the door body may be contoured to match the contour of therestoration design and features, providing for a molded finish whilestill providing the practitioner greater control. Additionally, asdescribed above, multiple door bodies may be used for differentfunctions.

In some examples, when restorative material is introduced into a moldcavity that is defined by a mold body, e.g., described with respect toFIGS. 1-7G, excess restorative material may flow into unintended areasin the patient's mouth. This excess restorative material may be referredto as flash material. When cured, the flash material may be difficult toremove. In some examples, a tool used to form a dental restoration, suchas a mold body, can include one or more structural features that areconfigured to help reduce the amount of flash material that may resultafter restorative material is introduced into a cavity at leastpartially defined by the tool and/or may result in flash being less inmore critical and/or hard to access areas of the tooth while divertingthe flow or excess restorative material, and thus flash, to lesscritical and/or more accessible areas of the tooth where flash mayeasily be removed. Example structural features are described withrespect to FIGS. 8-16. These structural features can be used incombination with any of the other features of tools described herein,such as, but not limited to, door hinges, mold body clamps, releasecoatings, and the like.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are interior views of another example tool 700 that can beused to form a dental restoration. The tool includes a mold body 702configured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth of apatient. Mold body 702 may be configured to combine with at least the atleast one tooth of the patient to define a mold cavity 703 encompassingat least a portion of desired tooth structure of the at least one toothof the patient. Restorative dental material is introduced into moldcavity 703 (partially shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) in order to define adental restoration. The interior view of mold body 702 shown in FIGS. 8and 9 shows the surface of the tool that defines at least part of moldcavity 703 and faces inward into mold cavity 703. In in the exampleshown in FIGS. 8 and 9, mold body 702 defines a ridge 704 configured tocontact at least a portion of a tooth to be restored of the at least onetooth to concentrate sealing pressure at at least a portion of aperimeter of the mold cavity.

For example, mold body 702 may be configured to be placed at a surfaceof a tooth such that ridge 704 is at a perimeter of a mold cavity thatis formed by mold body 702 and the tooth when mold body 702 is placedover the surface of the tooth. Ridge 704 may be configured to extendtoward the tooth to such an extent such that it creates sealing pressureagainst the tooth. The sealing pressure may function to reduce orprevent the seepage of restorative material from the mold cavity suchthat flashing is either prevented altogether, substantially thin suchthat it is relatively easy to remove even after curing of therestorative material, and/or in more accessible and/or less criticalareas of the tooth.

For example, a ridge, such as ridge 704, may concentrate pressure andpromote sealing in critical areas of a restoration, such as the gingivalmargin and/or interproximal contacts, where excess flash can bedifficult to see and remove. Left in place, residual flash in theseareas may have undesirable effects such as entrapment of food particlesand gingival irritation. A ridge such as ridge 704 may assure thatexcess restorative material may preferentially flow toward vents andtoward more accessible and less critical areas of the tooth, such as theincisal edge, where flash may be relatively easily seen and removedduring finishing of the restoration.

In some examples, the design of sealing ridges may be particularlyenabled by CAD tools and the size, shape and/or position can beoptimized based on analytical tools such as finite element modelingand/or machine learning based on feedback from practitioners.

Although illustrated as being at a perimeter of the mold cavityconfigured to be near a gingival contour of the tooth, ridge 704 may beat any suitable position at a perimeter of the mold cavity. A ridge suchas ridge 704 may be used in combination with any of the example toolsdescribed herein. For example, any of the mold bodies described hereinmay include a ridge to concentrate sealing pressure at a perimeter of amold cavity.

When tool 700 is formed using digital design, e.g., based on a 3D modelof at least part of a patient's tooth structure, the patient's gingivalmargin can be determined. Thus, the digital design may permit ridge 704to be properly positioned on mold body 702. In contrast, when a moldbody is formed using a wax model or other physical model of thepatient's tooth, the gingival margin may not be readily visible ordeterminable. In this way, digital design may facilitate the design andmanufacture of tool 700.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are bottom views of another example tool 900 for forminga dental restoration. The tool includes a mold body 902 configured toprovide a customized fit with at least one tooth of a patient. Mold body902 may be configured to combine with at least the at least one tooth ofthe patient to define a mold cavity 903 encompassing at least a portionof desired tooth structure of the at least one tooth of the patient.Mold cavity 903 is only partially shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Like moldbody 702 of FIGS. 7 and 8, mold body 902 may include a ridge 904configured to contact at least a portion of a tooth to be restored ofthe at least one tooth to concentrate sealing pressure at at least aportion of a perimeter of the mold cavity.

Ridge 904 may be similar to ridge 704 of FIGS. 8 and 9. For example,mold body 902 may be configured to be placed at a surface of a toothsuch that ridge 904 is at a perimeter of a mold cavity that is formed bymold body 902, the tooth, and/or any other components when mold body 902is placed on the surface of the tooth. Ridge 904 may be configured toextend toward the tooth to such an extent such that it creates sealingpressure against the tooth. The sealing pressure may function to reduceor prevent the seepage of restorative material from the mold cavity suchthat flashing is either prevented altogether, substantially thin suchthat it is easy to remove even after curing of the restorative material,and/or in more accessible and/or less critical areas of the tooth.

For example, a ridge, such as ridge 904, may concentrate pressure andpromote sealing in critical areas of a restoration, such as the gingivalmargin and/or interproximal contacts, where excess flash can bedifficult to see and remove. Left in place, residual flash in theseareas may have undesirable effects such as entrapment of food particlesand/or gingival irritation. A ridge such as ridge 904 may assure thatexcess restorative material may preferentially flow toward vents andtoward more accessible and less critical areas of the tooth, such as theincisal edge, where flash may be relatively easily seen and removedduring finishing of the restoration.

Although illustrated as being at a perimeter of an opening 906 of moldbody 902, ridge 904 may be at any suitable position at a perimeter ofthe mold cavity. Opening 906 is, for example, an opening defined by moldbody 902 and configured to receive at least part of a tooth of thepatient in order to mate mold body 902 with the at least one tooth inorder to define mold cavity 903. A ridge such as ridge 904 may be usedin combination with any of the example tools described herein. Forexample, any of the mold bodies described herein may include a ridge toconcentrate sealing pressure at a perimeter of a mold cavity.

Use of a ridge, such as ridge 704 or ridge 904, may reduce thelikelihood of flash by ensuring good sealing at the perimeter of themold cavity to be filled. For example, these ridges may concentrateclamping pressure at the base of the tooth, sealing the mold cavityagainst the pressure developed during filling the mold with restorativematerial via a traditional injection port, during packing of therestorative material through an aperture such as apertures 104 and 504discussed above, or during placement of the door bodies such as thosediscussed above with reference to FIGS. 1-7G. Any flash that does occurmay be relatively thin along the ridgeline, making it easy to removewith a dental instrument.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are assembled and expanded cross-sectional views ofanother example tool 1100 for forming a dental restoration. In theexample shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, tool 1100 includes a mold body 1102and a mold body 1104, which are each configured to provide a customizedfit with at least one tooth of a patient, such as tooth 1106 (onlypartially shown in FIG. 12). Mold body 1102, 1104 may be configured tocombine with tooth 1106 to define a mold cavity 1108 encompassing atleast a portion of desired tooth structure of tooth 1106. A mold cavity1108 is configured to receive restorative material, e.g., which may beused to form a dental restoration. Mold bodies 1102, 1104 may be, forexample, examples of mold bodies 102, 106 of FIG. 1 or any of the othermold bodies described herein.

When mold bodies 1102 and 1104 combine with tooth 1106 to form moldcavity 1108, a portion 1110 of mold body 1102 may be configured to abuta portion 1112 of mold body 1104. Portion 1110 of mold body 1102includes an overbuilt portion 1114, as shown in in FIG. 13. Thus, whenportion 1110 of mold body 1102 abuts portion 1112 of mold body 1104,overbuilt portion 1114 is configured to provide intimate contact betweenportion 1110 of mold body 1102 and portion 1112 of mold body 1104. Forexample, because overbuilt portion 1114 is not designed to purely mimicthe shape (e.g., contour and dimensions) of portion 1112 of mold body1104 that it abuts, as it would in a simple mold that purely outlinesthe desired tooth structure, but is instead overbuilt, it may createsealing pressure (e.g., may define a gasket) between portion 1110 ofmold body 1102 and portion 1112 of mold body 1104 when mold bodies 1102and 1104 combine with tooth 1106 to form mold cavity 1108, as shown inFIG. 12. The sealing pressure may function to reduce or prevent theseepage of restorative material from mold cavity 1108 such that flashingis either prevented altogether, relatively thin such that it is easy toremove even after curing of the restorative material, and/or in moreaccessible and/or less critical areas of the tooth.

In some examples, the design of overbuilt portions may be particularlyenabled by CAD tools and the size, shape and/or position can beoptimized based on analytical tools such as finite element modelingand/or machine learning based on feedback from practitioners.

For example, an overbuilt portion, such as overbuilt portion 1114, mayconcentrate pressure and promote sealing in critical areas of arestoration, such as the gingival margin and/or interproximal contacts,where excess flash can be difficult to see and remove. Left in place,residual flash in these areas may have undesirable effects such asentrapment of food particles and/or gingival irritation. An overbuiltportion, such as overbuilt portion 1114, may help excess restorativematerial preferentially flow toward vents and toward more accessible andless critical areas of the tooth, such as the incisal edge, where flashmay be relatively easily seen and removed during finishing of therestoration.

In addition, overbuilt portion 1114 may allow for larger manufacturingtolerances when forming mold bodies 1102, 1104 that mate together anddefine a relatively tight seal between mold bodies 1102, 1104. Forexample, if one or both mold bodies 1102, 1104 are underformed duringmanufacture, mold bodies 1102, 1104 may nevertheless still mate togetherto form a relatively tight seal therebetween due to overbuilt portion1114.

Although illustrated as being near an incisal edge of mold cavity 1108,overbuilt portion 1114 may be at any suitable position where intimatecontact between two pieces of tool 1100 may be desired. Although portion1112 may be configured to form a recess, the portion may besubstantially flat, form a protrusion, or form any suitable shapeaccording to particular needs.

In some examples, overbuilt portion 1114 may be formed from acompressible material and may be configured to be compressed againstportion 1112 of mold body 1104 when mold bodies 1102 and 1104 combinewith tooth 1106 to form mold cavity 1108, as shown in FIG. 12. Inaddition, or alternatively, portion 1112 of mold body 1104 configured toabut overbuilt portion 1114 may be formed from a compressible materialand may be configured to be compressed against portion 1110 of mold body1102 when mold bodies 1102 and 1104 combine with tooth 1106 to form moldcavity 1108. Thus, in some examples, one or both overbuilt portion 1114and portion 1112 of mold body 1104 configured to abut overbuilt portion1114 may be formed from a compressible material.

An overbuilt portion such as overbuilt portion 1114 may be used incombination with any of the example tools described herein. For example,any of the mold bodies described herein may include an overbuilt portionto concentrate sealing pressure against another mold body, a tooth, or adoor body, according to particular needs.

Overbuilt portions such as overbuilt portion 1114 that are designed tobe between mold components may reduce or even prevent flash in at leastsome areas of the tooth by ensuring good sealing between differentportions of a tool for forming a dental restoration. As with the sealingridges, the overbuilt portion of a mold body may be a digitally enabledapproach that can be designed based on scan data of a patient and mayensure robust and intimate contact of the mold faces at the seams. Adesigner may tune the amount of overbuild between the mold faces tooptimize performance. In contrast, when mold bodies configured to engageone another are manually formed over a physical model of patient's toothstructure, a practitioner may form a unitary structure over the physicalmodel and then cut the unitary structure to define two mold bodies thatare configured to engage one another. The mold bodies formed by cuttingthe unitary structure results in mold bodies with mating structures thathave the same dimensions, rather than an overbuilt mating structure. Themating structures with the same dimensions may not permit the same typeof robust and intimate contact resulting from the overbuilt matingportions described with respect to FIGS. 12A and 12B.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are side and top views of another example tool 1300for forming a dental restoration. Tool 1300 includes a mold body 1302and a mold body 1304, each configured to provide a customized fit withat least one tooth of a patient. Mold bodies 1302, 1304 may beconfigured to combine with the tooth or teeth of the patient to define amold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired tooth structureof the tooth or teeth. Mold bodies 1302, 1304 may be, for example,examples of mold bodies 102, 106 of FIG. 1 or any of the other moldbodies described herein.

Mold bodies 1302, 1304 may be configured to form a clamp 1306 whenengaged with one another, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B. Clamp 1306 maybe an example of clamp 518 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C. In some examples,clamp 1306 may alternatively be a clip, a hinge, or another structureconfigured to engage mold bodies 1302, 1304 with each other. In anotherexample, mold bodies 1302 and 1304 may be configured to attach to eachother via a snap fit or another interlocking mechanism. When mold bodies1302, 1304 combine with the at least one tooth of the patient to formthe mold cavity, clamp 1306 is configured to be at least proximate anincisal edge 1308 of at least one of the tooth or teeth to be restored.

A clamp, such as clamp 1306, configured to be proximate an incisal edgeof a tooth or teeth to be restored may be used in combination with anyof the example tools described herein. For example, any of the moldbodies described herein may form a clamp with another door body,according to particular needs.

In cases where an incisal edge is being formed by a mold tool such astool 1300, the incisal edge may be a likely place to experience flashformation. An integrated mold clamping feature, such as clamp 1306 mayhelp ensure relatively tight clamping between the mold bodies 1302, 1304to help reduce or eliminate the flash that occurs along this edge. Anyflash that does occur may be very thin along incisal edge 1308 and maybe relatively easily removed with a dental instrument.

In some examples, by providing relatively tight clamping along theincisal edge, a clamp such as clamp 1306 may help excess restorativematerial preferentially flow toward vents where flash may be relativelyeasily seen and removed during finishing of the restoration.

In addition, in some examples, the integrated mold clamping feature,such as clamp 1306 may help mold bodies 1302, 1304 self-align with eachother and stay fixed relatively to each other. These features mayincrease the ease of use of tool 1300.

FIG. 15 is a top view of another example tool 1400 for forming a dentalrestoration. Tool 1400 includes mold bodies 1402 and 1404, eachconfigured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth of apatient and configured to combine with the at least one tooth of thepatient to define a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion ofdesired tooth structure of the at least one tooth. Mold bodies 1402,1404 may be, for example, examples of mold bodies 102, 106 of FIG. 1 orany of the other mold bodies described herein.

Mold body 1402 may define a structure 1406 and mold body 1404 may definea structure 1408. Structure 1406 may be configured to mate with at leasta portion of a clamp 1410 and structure 1408 may be configured to matewith at least another portion of clamp 1410. Clamp 1410 may beconfigured to secure mold bodies 1402 and 1404 to one another whenportions of clamp 1410 mate with structures 1406 and 1408. In someexamples, clamp 1410 may alternatively be a clip, a hinge, or anotherstructure configured to engage mold bodies 1402 and 1404 with oneanother.

Structures 1406 and 1408 may be integrally formed in mold bodies 1402and 1404 to provide an integral feature by which a clamp, such as clamp1410 may be attached to both mold bodies 1402 and 1404 to hold moldbodies 1402 and 1404 together. Although structures 1406 and 1406 areillustrated as protrusions, structures 1406 and 1408 may alternativelybe indentations or any other structure capable of attaching clamp 1410to mold bodies 1402 and 1404. In some examples, clamp 1410 may beintegrally formed in mold bodies 1402 and 1404 and/or structures 1406and 1408. In some examples, mold bodies 1402 and 1404 may includestructures 1406 and 1408 or structures similar to structures 1406 and1408 configured to mate with another dental instrument other than clamp1410 that may be used to place, align, secure, manipulate, and/orrelease mold bodies 1042 and/or 1404. For example, mold bodies 1402and/or 1404 may include one or more structures such as, for example, apry bar, a lever, a handle, an alignment feature, or the like, accordingto particular needs.

Integral structures such as structures 1406 and 1408 configured to matewith portions of a clamp, such as clamp 1410, may be used in combinationwith any of the example tools described herein. For example, any of themold bodies or door bodies described herein may form a structureconfigured to mate with a clamp to allow the mold body or door body tobe held together with another component, according to particular needs.

As discussed above with respect to protrusion 522 b in FIG. 6A, clampingpressure that can be placed on the outside of two mold halves, such asmold bodies 1402 and 1404, may help ensure tight contact while fillingthe mold cavity defined by mold bodies 1402, 1404 with a restorativematerial, and reduce flash along the gingival margin and in theinterproximal areas. This clamping pressure may counteract theapplication pressure of the restorative as the practitioner is filling.

The sealing pressure may function to reduce or prevent the seepage ofrestorative material from the mold cavity such that flashing is eitherprevented altogether, relatively thin such that it is easy to removeeven after curing of the restorative material, and/or in more accessibleand/or less critical areas of the tooth.

For example, clamping pressure may concentrate pressure and promotesealing in critical areas of a restoration, such as the gingival marginand/or interproximal contacts, where excess flash can be difficult tosee and remove. Left in place, residual flash in these areas may haveundesirable effects such as entrapment of food particles and/or gingivalirritation. Clamping pressure may help excess restorative materialpreferentially flow toward vents and toward more accessible and lesscritical areas of the tooth, such as the incisal edge, where flash maybe relatively easily seen and removed during finishing of therestoration.

The integrated clamping locations provided by structures 1406, 1408 mayallow for the easy and stable placement of the clamps, such as clamp1410, with the ability to optimize the placement of clamp 1410 fordesired force distribution. For example, using digital design, a tooldesigner, manually or with the aid of software, may select the locationsof structures 1406, 1408 based on the pressure points that will resultfrom placing the clamp at the particular locations.

Further, building in clamping locations in mold bodies 1402, 1404 viastructures 1406, 1408 may help reduce variability of the amount ofclamping pressure applied to mold bodies 1402, 1404 frompractitioner-to-practitioner, and may increase the ease of use of tool1400 (e.g., reducing the training required to use tool 1400). Ratherthan a practitioner applying clamps to mold bodies 1402, 1404 in anidiosynractic manner, the integrated clamping locations provided bystructures 1406, 1408 may provide for relatively uniform clamping in aknown, specific location (e.g., as compared to hand clamping).

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another example tool 1500 for forming adental restoration. Tool 1500 may include a mold body 1502 configured toprovide a customized fit with at least one tooth of a patient andconfigured to combine with the at least one tooth of the patient todefine a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired toothstructure of the tooth to be restored. Mold body 1502 may define an edge1504 defining a contour configured to match at least a portion of agingival contour of a tooth to be restored. This may be referred to asgingival contouring in some examples.

A mold body with an edge configured to define a contour configured tomatch at least a portion of a gingival contour of a tooth to be restoredmay be used in combination with any of the example tools describedherein. For example, any of the mold bodies or door bodies describedherein may define a contour configured to match at least a portion of agingival contour of a tooth to be restored, according to particularneeds.

Contouring edge 1504 of mold body 1502 along the gingival margin mayallow a practitioner access to the gingival margin and thus the abilityto manage restorative material subgingivally. This may allow thepractitioner to remove excess material below the gingiva before curingthe composite, which may minimize the amount of flash on the finalrestoration.

The gingival contouring of mold body 1502 may be designed using adigital model of a patient's tooth structure. In contrast, with manualtechniques for forming mold bodies using a physical model of a patient'stooth structure, the gingival margin may not be readily determinable.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are front (e.g., facial) and top (e.g., incisal) viewsof another example mold body 1602 of an example tool for forming adental restoration. FIGS. 18A and 18B are front and bottom views ofanother example tool 1700 for forming a dental restoration, where thetool 1700 includes mold body 1602 of FIGS. 17A and 17B and an additionalmold body 1702.

Mold body 1602 may be configured to provide a customized fit with atleast one tooth of a patient, such as the teeth 1604. At least a portionof the mold body 1602 may be configured to surround at least a portionof teeth 1604. Mold body 1602 may be configured to combine with teeth1604 to define a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desiredtooth structure of teeth 1604.

At least a portion of mold body 1702 may be configured to surround atleast a portion of mold body 1602. Additionally, mold body 1702 may bestiffer than mold body 1602 such that mold body 1702 provides structuralsupport to mold body 1602 such that the mold cavity does not expand asrestorative material is inserted into the mold cavity.

In some examples, mold body 1702 may include a material that is morerigid than a material used to compose mold body 1602 such that mold body1702 is stiffer than mold body 1602. Alternatively, or in addition, moldbody 1702 may include structures that provide stiffness that is greaterthan that of mold body 1602. For example, a support structure 1704 mayprovide structural support to mold body 1702 such that mold body 1702 isstiffer than mold body 1602 along at least a portion of mold body 1702or along the entire mold body 1702. As another example, mold body 1702may define one dimension with a greater thickness than a correspondingdimension of mold body 1602. For example, mold body 1702 may have athickness “t2” that is greater than a thickness “t1” of mold body 1602.As another example, mold body 1702 may include one or more ribsproviding structural support to mold body 1702. Support structure 1704may also serve as a handle for placement and/or removal of mold body1702.

In some examples, mold body 1602 may define one or more apertures, suchas apertures 1706 a-1706 d. Apertures 1706 a and 1706 b may beconfigured to allow placement of restorative material into the moldcavity and apertures 1706 c and 1706 d may allow for excess restorativematerial to flow out of the mold cavity. Outer mold body 1702 may definean aperture 1708 that may be larger than each of apertures 1706 a-1706 dand may be configured to allow access to apertures 1706 a-1706 d when atleast a portion of mold body 1702 is surrounding at least a portion ofmold body 1602. Further, larger aperture 1708 that is larger thanapertures 1706 a-1706 d of mold body 1602 may allow for access toapertures 1706 a-1706 d, even when there may be misalignment betweenmold bodies 1602, 1702.

Additionally, in some examples, aperture 1708 being larger thanapertures 1706 a-1706 d may prevent or reduce unwanted material flowbetween mold bodies 1702 and 1602. In some examples, support structure1704 may be located proximate larger aperture 1708 to provide additionalstructural support proximate larger aperture 1708, where the rigidity ofmold body 1702 may otherwise be compromised by larger aperture 1708.

In some examples, a reinforcement structure 1710 may be located aroundand/or proximate one or more of apertures 1706 a-1706 d to providestructural reinforcement to the mold body 1602 such that mold body 1602retains its shape given that apertures such as apertures 1706 a-1706 dmay otherwise compromise the structural integrity of mold body 1602. Insome examples, mold body 1602 may be compressible.

The described features of mold bodies 1602 and 1702 may be combined withany of the other features described herein. In some examples, one ormore of the other features described above, such as apertures, doorbodies, ridges or other overbuilt portions configured to abut a toothand/or another mold body, clamps, integrated clamping locations, andgingival contouring, may be used with mold bodies 1602, 1702.

Defining a mold cavity with an inner mold body, such as mold body 1602,which may be compliant, may allow the inner mold body to adapt aroundseams of the mold cavity as needed. This may help provide proper sealingbetween mold components to prevent flash, reduce flash, result in flashthat is relatively thin such that it is easy to remove even after curingof the restorative material, and/or preferentially result in flash inmore accessible and/or less critical areas of the tooth.

For example, a relatively compliant mold body, such as mold body 1602,may allow for proper sealing in some areas of a restoration, such as thegingival margin and/or interproximal contacts, where excess flash can bedifficult to see and remove. Left in place, residual flash in theseareas may have undesirable effects such as entrapment of food particlesand/or gingival irritation. Allowing for proper sealing may assure thatexcess restorative material will preferentially flow toward vents andtoward more accessible and less critical areas of the tooth, such as theincisal edge, where flash may be relatively easily seen and removedduring finishing of the restoration.

A more rigid outer mold body 1702 nested around the more compliant moldbody 1702 adds structural support to maintain the intended cavity shape.Inner mold body 1602 may intimately nest within rigid mold body 1702,which may help to increase the uniformity of the counter pressureapplied by mold body of tool 1700 during the filling process.

In some examples, a mold body similar to mold body 1602 may first beplaced on a lingual side of teeth 1604. Mold body 1602 may be placed onthe facial side of teeth 1604 and may abut at least a portion of themold body that is on the lingual side of the teeth. Mold body 1702 maybe placed over the inner components, including mold body 1602, to helpsecure them in place. In some examples, a dental restoration (e.g., aveneer) may be formed by introducing a restorative material (e.g.,Filtek™ Supreme Universal A2, available from 3M ESPE Dental Products inSt. Paul, Minn.) in the mold cavity through apertures 1706 a and 1706 b,with excess material able to flow out of apertures 1706 c and 1706 d.The excess material may be removed, the restorative material cured, andthe tool removed. In other examples, the mold body placed on the lingualside of the teeth may be of similar rigidity as mold body 1602.

In other examples, in addition to or instead of introducing restorativematerial into a mold cavity via apertures 1706 a, 1706 b, therestorative material may be applied to teeth 1604 and then mold body1602 may be placed on teeth 1604, and/or the restorative material may beapplied to mold body 1602 and then placed on teeth 1604.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are top and perspective views of another example tool1800 for forming a dental restoration. The tool may include a mold body1802 configured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth of apatient and configured to combine with the tooth or teeth of the patientto define a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired toothstructure of a tooth. Mold body 1802 may define at least one protrusion,such as protrusions 1804 a-1804 d configured to provide a grippingmechanism for a practitioner. The grips may be configured for grippingby fingers and/or by a dental instrument such as a hemostat. In someexamples, one or more of protrusions 1804 a-1804 d, such as 1804 a and1804 d may define a structure configured to mate with at least a portionof a clamp. For example, the recess 1806 defined by protrusion 1804 dmay be configured to receive a portion of a clamp. In some examples, oneor more of protrusions 1804 a-1804 d may define one or more ribs, suchas ribs 1808 a-1808 h defined by protrusion 1804 c. Ribs 1808 a-1808 hmay allow a practitioner to better grip protrusion 1804 c.

In some examples, one or more of protrusions 1804 a-1804 d may defineone or more levers configured to provide a mechanism for use in pryingmold body 1802 away from the dental restoration after curing of thedental restoration. For example, the shape of each of protrusions 1804a-1804 d may define a lever that may be used in such a manner.

Protrusions configured to allow a gripping mechanism to a practitionerand/or configured to mate with a portion of a clamp, such as protrusions1804 a-1804 d may be used in combination with any of the example toolsdescribed herein. For example, any of the mold bodies or door bodiesdescribed herein may include a protrusion like protrusions 1804 a-1804d, according to particular needs. Protrusions 1804 a-1804 d are examplesof protrusion 206 of FIGS. 2A and 2B and protrusion 522B of FIG. 6A.

Integrated grips provided by protrusions 1804 a-1804 d may increase theease of use of any of the mold bodies described herein. For example,protrusions 1804 a-1804 d may allow a practitioner to easily identifythe points on the tool to use for placing and removing the tool, makinguse of the tools more intuitive. Protrusions 1804 a-1804 d may alsoprovide securement of the components (e.g., to reduce the possibilitythat the mold body to which the protrusion is attached is not dropped),and may also provide leverage for removing after the restorative hasbeen cured. In some examples, protrusions may also include through holesto allow securement with floss threaded through the hole. In someexamples, the protrusions may instead or additionally be configured asindentations.

In some cases, it may be desirable to form a dental structure betweenadjacent teeth, such as to reduce or eliminate a diastema. A mold bodythat is configured to provide a customized fit over one or more teeth todefine a mold cavity may facilitate the formation of a dental structurebetween adjacent teeth. The dental structure between adjacent teeth canbe an entire dental restoration or may be a part of a dentalrestoration, in which case the same mold body may be used to form theother parts of the dental restoration or another mold body, such as themold bodies described above with respect to FIGS. 1-19B, may be used toform the other parts of the dental restoration.

FIGS. 20A-20E illustrate example mold body 1902 that can be used to forma dental structure between adjacent teeth. FIG. 20A illustrates moldbody 1902 attached to two or more teeth 1904 a, 1904 b, 1904 c, and/or1904 d (collectively, “teeth 1904”), FIG. 20B illustrates across-sectional view of teeth 1904 and mold body 1902 when it isattached to two or more teeth 1904, the cross-section being taken in thex-y plane (orthogonal x-y-z axes are shown in FIG. 20B for ease ofdescription), FIG. 20C illustrates a front view of mold body 1902, FIG.20D illustrates a top view of mold body 1902, and FIG. 20E illustrates abottom view of mold body 1902. Mold body 1902 may also be referred to asa wrapping matrix in some examples.

Mold body 1902 may be configured to be attached to two or more teeth1904, which can be, but do not have to be, adjacent to each other. Moldbody 1902 includes a base member 1906 configured to provide a customizedfit with the two or more teeth 1904. For example, base member 1906 maybe configured to contact a reference geometry, such as, for example, alingual surface 1908 a and 1908 b of each of two adjacent teeth 1904 aand 1904 b, and mate with the reference geometry when mold body 1902 isattached to the two or more teeth 1904. A side of base member 1906configured to contact the teeth may have a geometry that corresponds tothe reference geometry such that the teeth having the reference geometrynest in base member 1906. The reference geometry can be, for example,any suitable surface of a tooth, such as, but not limited to, a lingualsurface, a facial surface, an incisal surface, or an occlusal surface ofthe tooth. Although base member 1906 is shown in FIGS. 20A-20E as beingfit over teeth 1904 a, 1904 b, in other examples, base member 1906 maybe configured to provide a customized fit over other teeth. For example,the reference geometry may be tooth 1904 c and/or tooth 1904 d, wheretooth 1904 c is nonadjacent to tooth 1904 b to be restored.

Mold body 1902 includes an interproximal member 1910 configured to bedisposed between two adjacent teeth 1904 a and 1904 b. Interproximalmember 1910 is mechanically connected to base member 1906 and extendsfrom base member 1906. Base member 1906 may be configured to help engagemold body 1902 with teeth 1904, stabilize interproximal member 1910relative to tooth 1904 b to be restored, and properly aligninterproximal member 1910 relative to teeth 1904.

In the example shown in FIGS. 20A-20E, mold body 1902 is configured tocombine with at least two teeth 1904 to define a mold cavity 1912encompassing at least a first portion of desired tooth structure oftooth 1904 b. In some examples, the portion of desired tooth structuremay define an interproximal surface of tooth 1904 b. For example, asshown in FIG. 20B, interproximal member 1910 of mold body 1902 mayextend between adjacent teeth 1904 a, 1904 b and, together with tooth1904 b, defines mold cavity 1912. The portion of desired tooth structuremay, in some cases, also include an expanded region that may includeportions of the facial, lingual, and/or incisal surfaces of tooth 1904b. In these examples, interproximal member 1910 or another portion ofmold body 1902 may wrap around the other surface or surfaces of tooth1904 b to be restored.

Interproximal member 1910 extends from a back portion 1906 a of basemember 1906 towards the facial surface of tooth 1904 b when mold body1902 is positioned on the teeth 1904 of the patient. In the exampleshown in FIGS. 20A-20E, back portion 1906 a is configured to sitadjacent to a lingual surface of tooth 1904 b when mold body 1902 is fitover teeth 1904. In some examples, an end 1910 a of interproximal member1910 may extend past facial surface of tooth 1904 b (in a direction awayfrom the lingual surface), although in other examples, end 1910 a ofinterproximal member 1910 may remain between adjacent teeth 1904 a, 1904b, in an interproximal region or may be positioned at the facial surfaceof tooth 1904 b, when mold body 1902 is properly attached to teeth 1904.

Although FIG. 20A illustrates interproximal member 1910 as beingprimarily positioned between adjacent teeth 1904 a, 1904 b, in someexamples, interproximal member 1910 may also cover a portion of tooth1904 b to be restored. For example, in addition to extending betweenadjacent teeth, interproximal member 1910 may cover a portion of thelingual and/or facial surface of tooth 1904 b to be restored. This mayhelp close mold cavity 1912 and contain restorative material within moldcavity 1912, as well as define portions of the facial, lingual and/orincisal surfaces of tooth 1904 b to be restored.

In some examples, a practitioner may attach mold body 1902 to teeth1904, fill mold cavity 1912 with restorative material, and, ifnecessary, remove some or all excess restorative material to define thedesired interproximal surface of tooth 1904 b. For example, thepractitioner may remove any restorative material that remains outside ofmold cavity 1912. Thereafter, the practitioner may cure the restorativematerial and remove mold body 1902 from teeth 1904. In addition to, orinstead of, filling mold cavity 1912 with restorative material afterattaching mold body 1902 to teeth 1904, the practitioner may applyrestorative material directly to mold body 1902, attach mold body 1902to teeth 1904, cure the restorative material, and remove mold body 1902from teeth 1904. These steps may provide a portion of desired toothstructure defining an interproximal surface of tooth 1904 b.

In some examples, after using mold body 1902 to form portion of desiredtooth structure defining an interproximal surface of tooth 1904 b, thepractitioner may then use a second mold body, such as one of the moldbodies of the other examples described herein (e.g., mold bodies 102,106 shown in FIG. 1) or any other suitable mold body, to form othertooth structure. The second mold body may be configured to define toothstructure adjacent to the interproximal surface defined by mold body1902 and/or tooth structure overlapping with the interproximal surface.

After forming the tooth structure that defines an interproximal surfaceof tooth 1904 b using mold body 1902, a practitioner may apply thesecond mold body to one or more teeth including tooth 1904 b to define asecond mold cavity, fill the second mold cavity with restorativematerial, cure the restorative material, and remove the mold body fromtooth 1904 b. In some examples, in addition to or instead of filling thesecond mold cavity after the second mold body is attached to the desiredteeth 1904, the practitioner may fill the second mold body with therestorative material prior to attaching the second mold body tooth 1904b, and/or the practitioner may apply the restorative material to tooth1904 b and then attach the second mold body to tooth 1904 b. Thus, moldbody 1902 may be used to form an interproximal portion of desired toothstructure defining an interproximal surface of tooth 1904 b, and anothermold body may be used to form other portions of desired tooth structureon tooth 1904 b. In some examples, the use of mold body 1902 without theuse of a subsequent mold body may give tooth 1904 b the desiredstructure. This technique may be particularly useful in closingdiastemas and may be combined with active wedging (such as thatdescribed in International Patent Publication No. WO 2016/094272 A1) tocreate tight, yet flossible contacts between anterior teeth.

In some examples, mold body 1902 may include a coating and/or a releasefilm to facilitate release of the restorative material form the surfaceof mold cavity 1912. In addition, in some examples, mold body 1902 mayinclude a protrusion or handle or the like to help a practitionerphysically grasp mold body 1902 (manually or with the aid of a grippingdevice).

Although mold body 1902 is shown as being attached to adjacent teeth1904 a, 1904 b to define mold cavity 1912 between adjacent teeth 1904 a,1904 b, in some examples, mold body 1902 may be configured to attach toone or more teeth that may not be adjacent to each other, as describedwith respect to FIGS. 21A and 21B.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are perspective and front views, respectively, ofanother example tool 1920 for forming a dental restoration in aninterproximal region between adjacent teeth. In the example shown inFIGS. 21A and 21B, mold 1920 is configured to form a dental structurethat is an interproximal portion of tooth 1904 b. In some examples, thedental restoration may also include portions of the facial, lingualand/or incisal surfaces of a tooth. Tool 1920 is similar to tool 1902shown in FIGS. 20A-20E, but includes a plurality of base members 1922 a,1922 b, 1922 c, as well as interproximal member 1925. Base members 1922a, 1922 b, 1922 c help engage tool 1920 with teeth 1904, stabilizeinterproximal member 1925 relative to tooth 1904 b to be restored, andproperly position interproximal member 1925 relative to tooth 1904 b tobe restored. Although three base member 1922 a, 1922 b, 1922 c are shownin FIGS. 21A and 21B, in other examples, mold body 1920 may include anysuitable number of base members to provide stability to interproximalmember 1925, such as, but not limited to, two, four, five or more. Insome examples, tool 1920 does not include interproximal member 1925. Forexample, tool 1920 may be stabilized and aligned with tooth 1904 b to berestored using base members 1922 a, 1922 b, 1922 c and without the useof interproximal member 1925.

Base members 1922 a, 1922 b, 1922 c are configured to provide acustomized fit with teeth 1904 c, 1904 d, 1922 b, respectively. As shownin FIG. 21B, base member 1922 a is configured to contact a referencegeometry that is tooth 1904 c adjacent to tooth 1904 b to be restored,and base member 1922 b may contact a reference geometry other than atooth adjacent to tooth 1904 b to be restored, such as, for example,tooth 1904 d. In some examples, base member 1922 a may be configured tocontact a reference geometry other than tooth 1904 c. For example, basemember 1922 a may be configured to contact a tooth that is not adjacentto tooth 1904 b to be restored. A base member 1922 a, 1922 b, 1922 c maysurround or cover a portion of a surface of one or more teeth 1904 c,1904 d, 1904 b, respectively. For example, base members 1922 a and/or1922 b may surround or cover a portion of the incisal surface of teeth1904 c and/or 1904 d.

As discussed above, in some cases, a mold body, such as tool 1920, mayalso include a portion that wraps around another surface of a tooth,such as the facial or lingual surface of the tooth. An example of thisis shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B with respect to wrapping member 1926,which is configured to extend at least partially over a facial surfaceof tooth 1904 b to be restored when mold body 1920 is positioned overteeth 1904 such that interproximal member 1925 is positioned betweenadjacent teeth 1904 a, 1904 b. Wrapping member 1926 is similar tointerproximal member 1910 of FIGS. 20A-20E. Wrapping member 1926 mayengage the facial surface of tooth 1904 b to be restored or may bespaced from the facial surface of tooth 1904 b and form a mold cavitythat is positioned between the facial surface of tooth 1904 b andwrapping member 1926. In some examples, wrapping member 1926 mayencompass the portion of tooth 1904 b to be restored.

In the example shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, mold body 1920 includes ahandle 1924, which is a structure with which mold body 1920 may begrasped. Handle 1924 may allow for a practitioner to place mold body1920 in the mouth of a patient with greater ease, e.g., in comparison tosome mold bodies without handle 1924.

In some examples, mold body 1920 may include one or more other featuresto increase the ease of use of mold body 1920, as described herein. Forexample, mold body 1920 may include a protrusion 1927, which is astructure that aids the use of mold body 1920. For example, protrusion1927 may be configured to provide a handle or a gripping mechanism for apractitioner, e.g., the hand of the practitioner or a tool manipulatedby the practitioner, and/or ease the mating of mold body 1920 with oneor more teeth 1904. In this way, mating mold body 1920 with one or moreteeth 1904 may be facilitated by gripping protrusion 1927. Protrusion1927 may ease the handling of mold body 1920 by the practitioner, e.g.,may prevent the hand of the practitioner or a tool manipulated by thepractitioner from slipping from mold body 1920. In some examples,protrusion 1927 may prevent the practitioner from having to handle moldbody 1920 using interproximal member 1910 or another portion of moldbody 1920, which may be cumbersome and/or awkward to hold or use toplace mold body 1920 in contact with teeth 1904. Protrusion 1927 mayalso be used to pry tool 1902, interproximal member 1925, and/orwrapping member 1926 from tooth 1904 b after forming the dentalrestoration.

In some examples, mold body 1920 may include one or more of a pry, alever, or indicia features. In some examples, mold body 1920 may includea coating and/or a release film to facilitate release of the restorativematerial form the surface of mold body 1920 defining a mold cavity.

FIG. 22 is a diagram of an example system 1932 that can be used todesign any of the tools described herein. System 1932 includes displaydevice 1934, user input device 1936, and processor 1938. Processor 1938may include, for example, one or more processors, such as one or moremicroprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), general purposemicroprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs),field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic circuitry,equivalent discrete or integrated logic circuitry, or the like as wellas any combination of such components. Accordingly, the term“processor,” as used herein may refer to any of the foregoing structuresor any other structure suitable for implementation of the techniquesdescribed herein. In addition, in some aspects, the functionalitydescribed herein may be provided within dedicated hardware and/orsoftware modules. Also, the techniques could be fully implemented in oneor more circuits or logic elements. In general, system 1932 may compriseany suitable arrangement of hardware (e.g., circuitry), alone or incombination with software and/or firmware, to perform the varioustechniques described herein. Processor 1938 may be housed in a varietyof devices including, for example, one or more supercomputers, servers,personal computers, tablets, mobile phones, and/or other mobile devices.

Display device 1934 is configured to present information to a user,e.g., under the control of processor 1938. Input device 1936 may includea button or keypad, a speaker for voice commands, a mouse or touchpadfor moving a cursor or providing input, and the like. In some examplesdisplay device 1934 may be a touch screen, and may also act as an inputdevice 1936.

Although not shown in FIG. 22, system 1932 may also include a memoryconfigured to store instructions required to perform tasks attributed tosystem 1932. The memory may comprise any suitable memory, such as randomaccess memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), programmable read onlymemory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM),electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flashmemory, comprising executable instructions for causing the one or moreprocessors to perform the actions attributed to system 1932 herein.

A practitioner may use system 1932 to select and define one or moretools (e.g., mold bodies 102, 106 of FIG. 1, door body 200 of FIGS. 2Aand 2B, as well as the other mold bodies and door bodies describedherein) using a digital 3D model based upon intra-oral 3D scans or 3Dscans of impressions or models of teeth. Processor 1938 may beconfigured to receive digital 3D models of teeth (1930) from intra-oralscans or scans of impressions of teeth. Example systems that can be usedto generate digital 3D images or models based upon image sets frommultiple views are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,956,862 and 7,605,817.These systems can use an intra-oral scanner to obtain digital imagesfrom multiple views of teeth or other intra-oral structures, and thosedigital images are processed to generate a digital 3D model representingthe scanned teeth.

FIG. 23 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of designingany of the tools of FIGS. 1-21B. Although FIG. 23 is described withrespect to system 1932 shown in FIG. 22, the method may be performed byanother system, along or in combination with system 1932, in otherexamples. The method may include receiving, by processor 1938, a 3D scandata of a tooth structure of a patient (2002). The method may furtherinclude designing, by processor 1932, a tool for forming the dentalrestoration of the tooth based on the D3 scan data of the mouth of thepatient (2004). The tool may be any of the example tools describedherein. Designing the tool may include incorporating any the featuresdescribed herein that are not based solely on the scan data of the toothstructure of the patient such as, for example, apertures, protrusions,door body configurations, or other features that may improve thefunctionality of the tool.

In some examples, the method may further include controlling, byprocessor 1938, a 3D printer to define the tool. For example, the toolmay be printed from Accura® 60 resin (a clear plastic) on the 3D SystemsViper™ printer, available from 3D Systems of Rock Hill, S.C. In someexamples, the method may further include manufacturing the tool by aCAD/CAM milling processes.

In some examples, tool design may be facilitated by creation of a targetrestoration design. Commercial design software, such as that availablefrom Exocad™ of Darmstadt, Germany, may be used to create a targetrestoration, optionally review the proposed design with thepractitioner, and then use a combination of CAD design, part librariesand/or Boolean operation to create the design of the custom tool.

In some examples, the method may further include controlling, byprocessor 1938, a device to process at least a portion of a surface ofthe tool to facilitate removal of the tool from a dental restorationafter curing of the dental restoration and/or a smooth finish of atleast one surface of the dental restoration. For example, controllingthe device to process the portion of the surface of the tool may includecontrolling the device to polish the portion of the surface to result inthe portion of the surface being smoother than before polishing. Asanother example, controlling the device to process the portion of thesurface of the tool comprises controlling the device to coat the portionof the surface with a material, such as methacrylate resin, and curingthe portion of the surface to result in the portion of the surface beingsmoother than before coating. As another example, controlling the deviceto process the portion of the surface of the tool may includecontrolling the device to coat the portion of the surface with amaterial (e.g., Rubber See Release Agent from Taub Products of JerseyCity, N.J.) to result in the portion of the surface having less adhesionforce with restorative material than before coating.

When leveraging additive manufacturing technologies to fabricate thetools described herein, layer lines may be visible on the surface of theappliance and thus transferred to the restoration created with theappliance. These layer lines may require the practitioner to spendadditional time smoothing the final restoration to achieve an acceptablesurface finish. Thus, by polishing and/or coating the surface of theappliance, the layer lines can be removed and leave a smoother surfacefinish to the restoration.

Additionally, polishing and/or coating the surface of the tool mayincrease the visibility through the tool due to the reduced scatteringof light from the rough surfaces. Visual feedback and light transmissionfor curing are increased when the light scattering is reduced. Reducingthe surface roughness of the mold cavity also reduces the mechanicalinterlocking of the restorative to the mold face. This allows for lowerrelease forces to remove the mold, improving reliability of the process.

FIG. 24 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for forming anyof the tools of FIGS. 1-21B. The method may include receiving, from aremote manufacturing facility, a design for a custom tool for formingthe dental restoration of the tooth (2102). The method may furtherinclude manufacturing the tool based on the received design (2104). Insome examples, manufacturing the tool comprises manufacturing the toolby a CAD/CAM milling processes. In some examples, manufacturing the toolcomprises 3D printing the tool. In some examples, the method may furtherinclude processing one or more portions of one or more surfaces of thetool as described with reference to FIG. 23.

Various examples have been described. Modifications to the describedexamples may be made within the spirit of this disclosure. For example,custom tools can be fabricated off of initial tooth geometry ordigitally optimized tooth geometry (e.g. hole-filling to close gaps inthe data, pulling and scaling data from tooth libraries, testing in avirtual articulator). Tools can fit precisely to the existing structureor can be optimized to selectively move or position tissue. Custom toolsmay be formed to generate a digitally optimized tooth structure thatwill require the practitioner to remove tooth structure prior toapplication of the tool. Such plans can be communicated to thepractitioner via images, digital models, and/or reduction copings. Toolscan be printed or milled. Tools can be made from the full range of 3Dprinted materials (strength, flexibility, translucency, color). Toolscan be coated with a range of agents to enhance sealing, optimizerelease, surface finish and optical transparency. Tools can containfeatures to indicate or define fill level of different restorativematerials (shade, fill level, physical properties).

Physical characteristics (elasticity, roughness, transparency, etc.) oftools can vary across the tool to improve sealing capability,dimensional fidelity, texture imparted to restorative material, degreeof cure of material, etc.). Tools and/or mold or door bodies caninterlock with each other or with standard components (e.g., matrixbands). Tools can be used inside or outside of the mouth of a patient.Restorative material may be placed or injected through apertures intools, applied to tooth structure and/or the tool prior to theapplication of the tool, such that application shapes the material.Tools can be degradable (e.g. by solvent/heat) to release from therestorative material or enable undercut geometries and/or reduce partinglines. Tools could be collapsible (deflated, frangible, etc.). Kits canbe created of the patient specific tools and associated products andquantities, (e.g. adhesives, filling, and polishing materials selectedfor the patient needs and/or doctor preferences). Series of tools may beused sequentially in the direct filling process in order to control thegeometries of multiple layers of a dental restoration on a tooth.

Dental scans may be taken at any suitable time, such as at diagnosticappointment to facilitate custom tools fabrication prior to a dentalrestoration appointment. Tools may be manufactured locally or digitalscan data may be sent to a remote location for production. Acquisitionof patient 3D data, creation of a treatment plan, creation of a tooldesign, and fabrication of the tool may be completed in any combinationof geographic locations including, for example, a dental office, adental laboratory, and/or an industrial facility.

The following examples are within the scope of the disclosure:

Clause 1: A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprising amold body configured to provide a customized fit with at least one toothof a patient, a single piece of the mold body defining an apertureconfigured to align with a portion of a surface of a tooth to berestored of the at least one tooth, the mold body being configured tocombine with the at least one tooth to define a mold cavity encompassingat least a portion of desired tooth structure of the tooth to berestored, wherein the aperture is larger than a tip of a restorativedental material introduction device and configured to allow placementand flow of a restorative material into the mold cavity to cover theportion of the surface of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 2: The tool of clause 1, wherein the dental restoration comprisesa layer formed over the surface of a portion of the tooth to berestored.

Clause 3: The tool of clause 1 or 2, wherein the mold body comprises afirst mold body, the tool further comprising a second mold bodyconfigured to provide a customized fit with the at least one tooth ofthe patient, wherein the first and second mold bodies are configured tocombine with the at least one tooth of the patient to form the moldcavity encompassing the at least the portion of desired tooth structureof the tooth to be restored.

Clause 4: The tool of clause 3, wherein the second mold body isseparable from and engageable with the first mold body.

Clause 5: The tool of clause 3 or 4, wherein, when the first and secondmold bodies combine with the at least one tooth of the patient to formthe mold cavity, at least a portion of the first mold body is configuredto abut a portion of the second mold body, wherein at least one of theportion of the first mold body or the portion of the second mold bodycomprises an overbuilt portion such that, when the portion of the firstmold body abuts the portion of the second mold body, the overbuiltportion is configured to provide intimate contact between the portion ofthe first mold body and the portion of the second mold body.

Clause 6: The tool of any of clauses 3-5, wherein the first and secondmold bodies are configured to form a clamp when the second mold body isengaged with the first mold body, and wherein, when the first and secondmold bodies combine with the at least one tooth of the patient to formthe mold cavity, the clamp is configured to be at least proximate anincisal edge of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 7: The tool of any of clauses 3-6, wherein the first mold bodydefines a first structure configured to mate with at least a firstportion of a clamp and the second mold body defines a second structureconfigured to mate with at least a second portion of the clamp, theclamp being configured to secure the first and second mold bodies to oneanother when the first portion of the clamp mates with the firststructure and the second portion of the clamp mates with the secondstructure.

Clause 8: The tool of any of clauses 1-7, wherein the mold body definesa vent configured to at least one of allow excess restorative materialto flow out of the mold cavity or allow air to flow out of the moldcavity.

Clause 9: The tool of any of clauses 1-8, further comprising a door bodycorresponding to the portion of the surface of the tooth to be restored,at least a portion of the door body being configured to mate with theaperture, wherein the mold body and the door body are configured tocombine with the at least one tooth of the patient to form the moldcavity encompassing the at least the portion of desired tooth structureof the tooth to be restored.

Clause 10: The tool of clause 9, wherein the door body is separable fromand engageable with the mold body.

Clause 11: The tool of clause 9, wherein the door body is attached tothe mold body via a hinge.

Clause 12: The tool of any of clauses 9-11, wherein a side of the doorbody configured to mate with the mold body defines a chamfered edge

Clause 13: The tool of any of clauses 9-12, wherein at least one of themold body or the door body defines a vent configured to at least one ofallow excess restorative material to flow out of the mold cavity orallow air to flow out of the mold cavity.

Clause 14: The tool of any of clauses 9-13, further comprising a releasefilm configured for placement on a surface of the door body tofacilitate release of restorative material from the surface of the doorbody.

Clause 15: The tool of any of clauses 9-14, further comprising a coatingconfigured for placement on a surface of the door body to facilitaterelease of restorative material from the surface of the door body.

Clause 16: The tool of any of clauses 9-15, wherein the door bodycomprises a first door body, the aperture comprises a first aperture,the portion of the lingual or facial surface of the one tooth to berestored of the at least one tooth comprises a first portion of a firstlingual or facial surface of a first tooth to be restored of the atleast one tooth, the mold body defines a second aperture configured toalign with a second portion of a second lingual or facial surface of asecond tooth to be restored of the at least one tooth, and the secondportion comprises a majority of the second lingual or facial surface ofthe second tooth to be restored, the tool further comprising a seconddoor body corresponding to the second portion of the second lingual orfacial surface of the second tooth to be restored, at least a portion ofthe second door body being configured to mate with the second aperture,wherein the mold body, the first door body, and the second door body areconfigured to combine with the at least one tooth of the patient to formthe mold cavity encompassing at least the portion of desired toothstructure of the at least one tooth.

Clause 17: The tool of clause 16, wherein the first aperture and thesecond aperture are different shapes and the first and second doorbodies are different shapes, the shape of the first door bodycorresponding to the shape of the first aperture and the shape of thesecond door body corresponding to the shape of the second aperture.

Clause 18: The tool of clause 16, wherein the first aperture and thesecond aperture are the same shape and the first and second door bodiesare the same shape.

Clause 19: The tool of any of clauses 16-18, wherein one or more of themold body, the first door body, or the second door body comprise one ormore indicia for facilitating one or more of mating the first door bodywith the first aperture or mating the second door body with the secondaperture.

Clause 20: The tool of clause 19, wherein the one or more indiciacomprise one or more of: a key structure and a corresponding keyhole;color coding; one or more symbols; or one or more other integrated orapplied markings.

Clause 21: The tool of any of clauses 9-20, wherein the door bodycomprises a first door body configured for one or more of final shapingor final layering of at least a portion of the dental restoration, thetool further comprising one or more of: a second door body, at least aportion of the second door body being configured to mate with theaperture, the second door body being configured for shaping anunderlying shade layer of at least the portion of the dentalrestoration; a third door body, at least a portion of the third doorbody being configured to mate with the aperture, the third door bodybeing configured to form one or more of one or more mamelons, one ormore grooves, or one or more pits; a fourth door body, at least aportion of the fourth door body being configured to mate with theaperture, the fourth door body being configured for near net shaping ofat least the portion of the dental restoration; or a fifth door body, atleast a portion of the fifth door body being configured to mate with theaperture, the fifth door body being configured for applying anintermediate layer of restorative material, the intermediate layer ofrestorative material comprising a first restorative material that isdifferent than a material applied during final layering by the firstdoor body.

Clause 22: The tool of clauses 9-21, wherein at least one of the moldbody or the door body defines at least one protrusion configured toprovide a gripping mechanism for a practitioner.

Clause 23: The tool of clause 22, wherein the at least one protrusiondefines one or more ribs.

Clause 24: The tool of clauses 22 or 23, wherein the at least oneprotrusion defines a structure configured to mate with at least aportion of a clamp.

Clause 25: The tool of any of clauses 22-24, wherein the at least oneprotrusion defines at least one lever configured to provide a mechanismfor use in prying the mold body away from the tooth to be restored.

Clause 26: The tool of any of clauses 1-25, further comprising a coatingconfigured for placement on a surface of the mold body to facilitaterelease of restorative material from the surface of the mold body.

Clause 27: The tool of any of clauses 1-26, wherein the mold bodycomprises a ridge configured to contact at least a portion of the toothto be restored of the at least one tooth to concentrate sealing pressureat at least a portion of a perimeter of the mold cavity.

Clause 28: The tool of clause 27, wherein the at least the portion ofthe perimeter of the mold cavity is configured to be located proximateto a gingival contour of the tooth to be restored when the mold bodycombines with at least the at least one tooth of the patient to form themold cavity.

Clause 29: The tool of any of clauses 1-28, wherein the first mold bodydefines an edge defining a contour configured to substantially match atleast a portion of a gingival contour of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 30: The tool of any of clauses 1-29, wherein a ratio of an areaof the aperture to a cross-sectional area of the tip is greater than orequal to about 2:1.

Clause 31: The tool of any of clauses 1-30, wherein the aperture isconfigured to align with a majority of the portion of the surface of thetooth to be restored.

Clause 32: The tool of any of clauses 1-31, further comprising therestorative dental material introduction device.

Clause 33: A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprisinga mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at least onetooth of a patient, the mold body defining an aperture configured toalign with a portion of a surface of one tooth to be restored of the atleast one tooth; and a door body corresponding to the portion of thesurface of the tooth to be restored, at least a portion of the door bodybeing configured to mate with the aperture, wherein the mold body andthe door body are configured to combine with the at least one tooth ofthe patient to form the mold cavity encompassing the at least theportion of desired tooth structure of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 34: The tool of clause 33, wherein the surface of the tooth to berestored is a lingual surface, a facial surface, an incisal surface, oran interproximal surface.

Clause 35: The tool of clause 33 or 34, wherein the dental restorationcomprises a layer formed over the surface of a portion of the tooth tobe restored.

Clause 36: The tool of any of clauses 33-35, wherein the mold bodycomprises a first mold body, the tool further comprising a second moldbody configured to provide a customized fit with the at least one toothof the patient, wherein the first and second mold bodies are the doorbody are configured to combine with the at least one tooth of thepatient to form the mold cavity encompassing the at least the portion ofdesired tooth structure of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 37: The tool of clause 36, wherein the second mold body isseparable from and engageable with the first mold body.

Clause 38: The tool of clause 36 or 37, wherein, when the first andsecond mold bodies combine with the at least one tooth of the patient toform the mold cavity, at least a portion of the first mold body isconfigured to abut a portion of the second mold body, wherein at leastone of the portion of the first mold body or the portion of the secondmold body comprises an overbuilt portion such that, when the portion ofthe first mold body abuts the portion of the second mold body, theoverbuilt portion is configured to provide intimate contact between theportion of the first mold body and the portion of the second mold body.

Clause 39: The tool of any of clause 36-38, wherein the first and secondmold bodies are configured to form a clamp when the second mold body isengaged with the first mold body, and wherein, when the first and secondmold bodies combine with the at least one tooth of the patient to formthe mold cavity, the clamp is configured to be at least proximate anincisal edge of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 40: The tool of any of clauses 36-39, wherein the first mold bodydefines a first structure configured to mate with at least a firstportion of a clamp, and the second mold body defines a second structureconfigured to mate with at least a second portion of the clamp, theclamp being configured to secure the first and second mold bodies to oneanother when the first portion of the clamp mates with the firststructure and the second portion of the clamp mates with the secondstructure.

Clause 41: The tool of any of clauses 33-40, wherein the door body isseparable from and engageable with the mold body.

Clause 42: The tool of any of clauses 33-41, wherein at least one of thedoor body or the mold body defines a vent configured to at least one ofallow excess restorative material to flow out of the mold cavity orallow air to flow out of the mold cavity.

Clause 43: The tool of any of clauses 33-42, further comprising arelease film configured for placement on a surface of the door body tofacilitate release of restorative material from the surface of the doorbody.

Clause 44: The tool of any of clauses 33-43, further comprising one ormore of a coating configured for placement on a surface of the door bodyto facilitate release of restorative material from the surface of thedoor body or a coating configured for placement on a surface of the moldbody to facilitate release of restorative material from the surface ofthe mold body.

Clause 45: The tool of any of clauses 33-44, wherein the door bodycomprises a first door body, the aperture comprises a first aperture,the portion of the surface of the one tooth to be restored of the atleast one tooth comprises a first portion of a first surface of a firsttooth to be restored of the at least one tooth, and the mold bodydefines a second aperture configured to align with a second portion of asurface of a second tooth to be restored of the at least one tooth, thetool further comprising a second door body corresponding to the secondportion of the second surface of the second tooth to be restored, atleast a portion of the second door body being configured to mate withthe second aperture; the mold body, the first door body, and the seconddoor body being configured to combine with the at least one tooth of thepatient to form the mold cavity encompassing at least the portion ofdesired tooth structure of the at least one tooth.

Clause 46: The tool of clause 45, wherein the first aperture and thesecond aperture are different shapes and the first and second doorbodies are different shapes, the shape of the first door bodycorresponding to the shape of the first aperture and the shape of thesecond door body corresponding to the shape of the second aperture.

Clause 47: The tool of clause 45, wherein the first aperture and thesecond aperture are the same shape.

Clause 48: The tool of any of clauses 45-47, wherein one or more of themold body, the first door body, or the second door body comprise one ormore indicia for facilitating one or more of mating the first door bodywith the first aperture or mating the second door body with the secondaperture.

Clause 49: The tool of clause 48, wherein the one or more indiciacomprise one or more of: a key structure and a corresponding keyhole;color coding; one or more symbols; or one or more other integrated orapplied markings.

Clause 50: The tool of any of clauses 33-49, wherein the door bodycomprises a first door body configured for one or more of final shapingor final layering of at least a portion of the dental restoration, thetool further comprising one or more of: a second door body, at least aportion of the second door body being configured to mate with theaperture; the second door body being configured for shaping anunderlying shade layer of at least the portion of the dentalrestoration; a third door body, at least a portion of the third doorbody being configured to mate with the aperture; the third door bodybeing configured to form one or more of one or more mamelons, one ormore grooves, or one or more pits; a fourth door body, at least aportion of the fourth door body being configured to mate with theaperture; the fourth door body being configured for near net shaping ofat least the portion of the dental restoration; or a fifth door body, atleast a portion of the fifth door body being configured to mate with theaperture, the fifth door body being configured for applying anintermediate layer of restorative material, the intermediate layer ofrestorative material comprising a first restorative material that isdifferent than a material applied during final layering by the firstdoor body.

Clause 51: The tool of any of clauses 33-50, wherein the mold bodycomprises a ridge configured to contact at least a portion of the toothto be restored of the at least one tooth to concentrate sealing pressureat at least a portion of a perimeter of the mold cavity.

Clause 52: The tool of clause 51, wherein the at least the portion ofthe perimeter of the mold cavity is configured to be located proximateto a gingival contour of the tooth to be restored when the mold bodycombines with at least the at least one tooth of the patient to form themold cavity.

Clause 53: The tool of any of clauses 33-52, wherein the mold bodydefines an edge configured to substantially overlay at least a portionof a gingival contour of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 54: The tool of any of clauses 33-53, wherein at least one of themold body or the door body defines at least one protrusion configured toprovide a gripping mechanism for a practitioner.

Clause 55: The tool of clause 54, wherein the at least one protrusiondefines one or more ribs.

Clause 56: The tool of clause 54 or 55, wherein the at least oneprotrusion defines a structure configured to mate with at least aportion of a clamp.

Clause 57: The tool of any of clauses 54-56, wherein the at least oneprotrusion defines at least one lever configured to provide a mechanismfor use in prying the mold body away from the tooth to be restored.

Clause 58: A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprisinga mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at least onetooth of a patient, the mold body being configured to combine with atleast the at least one tooth of the patient to define a mold cavityencompassing at least a portion of desired tooth structure of the atleast one tooth of the patient, the mold body comprising a ridgeconfigured to contact at least a portion of a tooth to be restored ofthe at least one tooth to concentrate sealing pressure at at least aportion of a perimeter of the mold cavity.

Clause 59: The tool of clause 58, wherein the at least the portion ofthe perimeter of the mold cavity is configured to be located proximateto a gingival contour of the tooth to be restored when the mold bodycombines with at least the at least one tooth of the patient to form themold cavity.

Clause 60: The tool of clause 58 or 59, wherein the dental restorationis a layer formed over the surface of a portion of the tooth to berestored.

Clause 61: A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprisinga first mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at leastone tooth of a patient; and a second mold body configured to provide acustomized fit with the at least one tooth of the patient, wherein thefirst and second mold bodies are configured to combine with the at leastone tooth of the patient to define a mold cavity encompassing at least aportion of desired tooth structure of the at least one tooth wherein,when the first and second mold bodies combine with the at least onetooth of the patient to form the mold cavity, at least a portion of thefirst mold body is configured to abut a portion of the second mold body,wherein the portion of the first mold body comprises an overbuiltportion such that, when the portion of the first mold body abuts theportion of the second mold body, the overbuilt portion is configured toprovide intimate contact between the portion of the first mold body andthe portion of the second mold body.

Clause 62: The tool of clause 61, wherein the dental restoration islayer formed over the surface of a portion of the tooth.

Clause 63: The tool of clause 61 or 62, wherein the overbuilt portion ofthe first mold body is formed from a compressible material, theoverbuilt portion being configured to be compressed against the portionof the second mold body when the first and second mold bodies combinewith the at least one tooth of the patient to form the mold cavity.

Clause 64: A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprisinga first mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at leastone tooth of a patient and a second mold body configured to provide acustomized fit with the at least one tooth of the patient, wherein thefirst and second mold bodies are configured to combine with the at leastone tooth of the patient to define a mold cavity encompassing at least aportion of desired tooth structure of the at least one tooth, andwherein the first and second mold bodies are configured to form a clampwhen the second mold body is engaged with the first mold body, wherein,when the first and second mold bodies combine with the at least onetooth of the patient to form the mold cavity, the clamp is configured tobe at least proximate an incisal edge of at least one tooth to berestored of the at least one tooth.

Clause 65: The tool of clause 64 wherein the dental restoration is alayer formed over the surface of a portion of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 66: A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprisinga first mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at leastone tooth of a patient, the first mold body defining a first structureconfigured to mate with at least a first portion of a clamp; and asecond mold body configured to provide a customized fit with the atleast one tooth of the patient, the second mold body defining a secondstructure configured to mate with at least a second portion of theclamp, the clamp being configured to secure the first and second moldbodies to one another when the first portion of the clamp mates with thefirst structure and the second portion of the clamp mates with thesecond structure, wherein the first and second mold bodies areconfigured to combine with the at least one tooth of the patient todefine a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired toothstructure of the at least one tooth.

Clause 67: The tool of clause 66, wherein the dental restoration is alayer formed over the surface of a portion of the at least one tooth.

Claim 68: The tool of clause 66 or 67, wherein at least one of the firststructure or the second structure extends away from the first mold bodyor the second mold body, respectively.

Claim 69: The tool of clause 66 or 67, wherein at least one of the firststructure or the second structure is recessed in the first mold body orthe second mold body, respectively.

Clause 70: A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprisinga mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at least onetooth of a patient, the mold body defining an edge defining a contourconfigured to match at least a portion of a gingival contour of a toothto be restored of the at least one tooth; wherein the mold body isconfigured to combine with the at least one tooth of the patient todefine a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired toothstructure of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 71: The tool of clause 70, wherein the dental restoration is alayer formed over the surface of a portion of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 72: A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprising:a first mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at leastone tooth of a patient, the first mold body having a first stiffness, atleast a first portion of the first mold body being configured tosurround at least a portion of the at least one tooth, the first moldbody being configured to combine with the at least one tooth to define amold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired tooth structureof the at least one tooth; and a second mold body having a secondstiffness that is greater than the first stiffness, at least a portionof the second mold body being configured to surround at least a secondportion of the first mold body.

Clause 73: The tool of clause 72, wherein the first mold body comprisesa first material and the second mold body comprises a second materialthat is more rigid that the first material.

Clause 74: The tool of clause 72, wherein the first and second moldbodies are formed from the same material.

Clause 75: The tool of any of clauses 72-74, wherein the secondstiffness is greater than the first stiffness due to the structures ofthe second and first mold bodies, respectively.

Clause 76: The tool of clause 75, wherein the second mold body definesone or more of at least one dimension with a greater thickness that acorresponding dimension of the first mold body or one or more supportribs.

Clause 77: The tool of clause any of clauses 72-76, wherein the firstmold body defines a first aperture configured to allow placement ofrestorative material into the mold cavity, the second mold body definesa second aperture, and the second aperture is larger than the firstaperture and is configured to allow access to the first aperture whenthe at least the portion of the second mold body is surrounding the atleast the second portion of the first mold body.

Clause 78: The tool of clause 77, wherein the second mold body comprisesa reinforcement structure proximate the second aperture and configuredto provide reinforcement to the second mold body.

Clause 79: The tool of any of clauses 72-79, wherein the dentalrestoration is a layer formed over the surface of a portion of the atleast one tooth.

Clause 80: The tool of any of clauses 72-80, wherein the first mold bodyis compressible.

Clause 81: A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprisinga mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at least onetooth of a patient, the mold body being configured to combine with theat least one tooth of the patient to define a mold cavity encompassingat least a portion of desired tooth structure of a tooth of the at leastone tooth, the mold body defining at least one protrusion configured toprovide a gripping mechanism for a practitioner, the protrusion defininga structure configured to mate with at least a portion of a clamp.

Clause 82: The tool of clause 81, wherein the protrusion defines one ormore ribs.

Clause 83: The tool of clause 81 or 82, wherein the at least oneprotrusion defines at least one lever configured to provide a mechanismfor use in prying the mold body away from the dental restoration aftercuring of the dental restoration.

Clause 84: The tool of any of clauses 81-83, wherein the dentalrestoration is a layer formed over the surface of a portion of the atleast one tooth.

Clause 85: A method of designing a tool for forming a dental restorationof a tooth, the method comprising receiving, by one or more processors,a three-dimensional scan data of a tooth structure of a patient; anddesigning, by the one or more processors, a tool for forming the dentalrestoration of the tooth based on the three-dimensional scan data of themouth of the patient; wherein the tool is the tool of any of clauses1-84.

Clause 86: The method of clause 85, further comprising controlling, bythe one or more processors, a three-dimensional printer to define thetool.

Clause 87: The method of clause 85, further comprising manufacturing thetool by a CAD/CAM milling processes.

Clause 88: The method of any of clauses 85-87, further comprisingcontrolling, by the one or more processors, a device to process at leasta portion of a surface of the tool to facilitate at least one of:removal of the tool from a dental restoration prior to curing of thedental restoration; removal of the tool from a dental restoration aftercuring of the dental restoration; or a smooth finish of at least onesurface of the dental restoration.

Clause 89: The method of clause 88, wherein controlling the device toprocess the at least the portion of the surface of the tool comprisescontrolling the device to polish the at least the portion of the surfaceto result in the at least the portion of the surface being smoother thanbefore polishing.

Clause 90: The method of clause 88 or 89, wherein controlling the deviceto process the at least the portion of the surface of the tool comprisescontrolling the device to coat the at least the portion of the surfacewith a material to result in the at least the portion of the surfacebeing smoother than before coating.

Clause 91: The method of any of clauses 88-90, wherein controlling thedevice to process the at least the portion of the surface of the toolcomprises controlling the device to coat the at least the portion of thesurface with a material to result in the at least the portion of thesurface having less adhesion force with restorative material than beforecoating.

Clause 92: A method for forming a tool for forming a dental restorationof a tooth, the method comprising receiving, from a remote manufacturingfacility, a design for a custom tool for forming the dental restorationof the tooth; and manufacturing the tool for forming the dentalrestoration of the tooth based on the received design, wherein the toolis the tool of any of clauses 1-81.

Clause 93: The method of clause 92, wherein manufacturing the toolcomprises manufacturing the tool by a CAD/CAM milling processes.

Clause 94: The method of clause 92, wherein manufacturing the toolcomprises 3D printing the tool.

Clause 95: The method of any of clauses 92-94, wherein manufacturing thetool comprises processing at least a portion of a surface of the tool tofacilitate at least one of removal of the tool from a dental restorationprior to curing of the dental restoration; removal of the tool from adental restoration after curing of the dental restoration; or a smoothfinish of at least one surface of the dental restoration.

Clause 96: The method of clause 95, wherein processing the at least theportion of the surface of the tool comprises polishing the at least theportion of the surface to result in the at least the portion of thesurface being smoother than before polishing.

Clause 97: The method of clause 95 or 96, wherein processing the atleast the portion of the surface of the tool comprises coating the atleast the portion of the surface with a material to result in the atleast the portion of the surface being smoother than before coating.

Clause 98: The method of any of clauses 95-97, wherein processing the atleast the portion of the surface of the tool comprises coating the atleast the portion of the surface with a material to result in the atleast the portion of the surface having less adhesion force withrestorative material than before coating.

Clause 99: A method of forming a dental restoration, the methodcomprising: attaching a mold body to at least one tooth of a patient,the mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at least onetooth of a patient, a single piece of the mold body defining an apertureconfigured to align with a portion of a surface of a tooth to berestored of the at least one tooth, the mold body being configured tocombine with the at least one tooth to define a mold cavity encompassingat least a portion of desired tooth structure of the tooth to berestored, wherein the aperture is larger than a tip of a restorativedental material introduction device and configured to allow placementand flow of a restorative material into the mold cavity to cover theportion of the surface of the tooth to be restored; filling the moldcavity with restorative material; curing the restorative material; andremoving the mold body from the at least one tooth.

Clause 100: The method of clause 99, further comprising, after fillingthe mold cavity with restorative material, placing at least a portion ofa door body within the aperture, the door body corresponding to theportion of the surface of the at least one tooth to be restored, atleast the portion of the door body being configured to mate with theaperture.

Clause 101: The method of clause 99 or 100, wherein filling the moldcavity with restorative material comprises aligning a tip of arestorative dental material introduction device with the aperture andintroducing the restorative material into the mold cavity via therestorative dental material introduction device, wherein a ratio of anarea of the aperture to a cross-sectional area of the tip is greaterthan or equal to about 2:1.

Clause 102: The method of any of clauses 99-101, wherein the mold bodycomprises a first mold body, the method further comprising attaching asecond mold body to the at least one tooth, the second mold body beingconfigured to provide a customized fit with the at least one tooth, thefirst and second mold bodies being configured to combine with the atleast one tooth of the patient to form the mold cavity encompassing atleast the portion of desired dental structure of the tooth to berestored.

Clause 103: The method of any of clauses 102, further comprisingengaging the second mold body with the first mold body; and separatingthe second mold body from the first mold body.

Clause 104: The method of clause 102 or 103, wherein when the first andsecond mold bodies combine with the at least one tooth of the patient toform the mold cavity, at least a portion of the first mold body abuts aportion of the second mold body, wherein at least one of the portion ofthe first mold body or the portion of the second mold body comprises anoverbuilt portion such that, when the portion of the first mold bodyabuts the portion of the second mold body, the overbuilt portionprovides intimate contact between the portion of the first mold body andthe portion of the second mold body.

Clause 105: The method of any of clauses 102-104, wherein the first andsecond mold bodies are configured to form a clamp when the first andsecond mold bodies are engaged together, wherein, when the first andsecond mold bodies combine with the at least one tooth of the patient toform the mold cavity, the clamp is configured to be at least proximatean incisal edge of the tooth to be restored.

Clause 106: The method of any of clauses 102-105, wherein the first moldbody defines a first structure configured to mate with at least a firstportion of a clamp, and the second mold body defines a second structureconfigured to mate with at least a second portion of the clamp, theclamp being configured to secure the first and second mold bodies to oneanother when the first portion of the clamp mates with the firststructure and the second portion of the clamp mates with the secondstructure, the method further comprising mating the first portion of theclamp with the first structure; and mating the second portion of theclamp with the second structure.

Clause 107: The method of any of clauses 99-106, further comprisingplacing at least a portion of a door body within the aperture, the doorbody corresponding to the portion of the surface of the tooth to berestored, at least the portion of the door body being configured to matewith the aperture.

Clause 108: The method of any of clause 107, wherein the door body isseparable from and engageable with the mold body.

Clause 109: The method of clause 107 or 108, wherein at least one of themold body or the door body defines a vent configured to allow excessrestorative material to flow out of the mold cavity.

Clause 110: The method of any of clauses 107-109, further comprisingplacing a release film on at least a portion of a surface of the doorbody before placing the at least a portion of the door body within theaperture; removing the at least a portion of the door body from theaperture; removing the release film from the at least a portion of thesurface; and placing the at least a portion of the door body within theaperture.

Clause 111: The method of any of clauses 107-110, further comprisingplacing a coating on at least a portion of a surface of the door bodybefore placing the at least a portion of the door body within theaperture; removing the at least a portion of the door body from theaperture; and placing the at least a portion of the door body within theaperture.

Clause 112: The method of any of clauses 107-111, wherein the door bodycomprises a first door body, the aperture comprises a first aperture,the portion of the lingual or facial surface of the one tooth of the atleast one tooth comprises a first portion of a first lingual or facialsurface of a first tooth of the at least one tooth, and the mold bodydefines a second aperture configured to align with a second portion of asecond lingual or facial surface of a second tooth of the at least onetooth, the method further comprising placing at least a portion of asecond door body within the second aperture, the second door bodycorresponding to the second portion of the lingual or facial surface ofthe second tooth of the at least one tooth, at least the portion of thesecond door body being configured to mate with the second aperture.

Clause 113: The method of clause 112, wherein the first aperture and thesecond aperture are different shapes and the first and second doorbodies are different shapes, the shape of the first door bodycorresponding to the shape of the first aperture and the shape of thesecond door body corresponding to the shape of the second aperture.

Clause 114: The tool of clause 112, wherein the first aperture and thesecond aperture are the same shape and the first and second door bodiesare the same shape.

Clause 115: The tool of any of clauses 112-114, wherein one or more ofthe mold body, the first door body, or the second door body comprise oneor more indicia for facilitating one or more of mating the first doorbody with the first aperture or mating the second door body with thesecond aperture.

Clause 116: The tool of clause 115, wherein the one or more indiciacomprise one or more of: a key structure and a corresponding keyhole;color coding; one or more symbols; or one or more other integrated orapplied markings.

Clause 117: The method of any of clauses 107-116, wherein placing the atleast a portion of the door body within the aperture provides one ormore of final shaping of at least a portion of the dental restoration,and the door body comprises a first door body, the method furthercomprising: placing additional restorative material into the mold cavityand at least one of: placing at least a portion of a second door bodywithin the aperture to shape an underlying shade layer of the at leastthe portion of the dental restoration, the at least the portion of thesecond door body being configured to mate with the aperture; placing atleast a portion of a third door body within the aperture to form one ormore of one or more mamelons; one or more grooves; or one or more pits,the at least the portion of the third door body being configured to matewith the aperture; placing at least a portion of a fourth door bodywithin the aperture to provide near net shaping of the at least theportion of the dental restoration, the at least the portion of thefourth door body being configured to mate with the aperture, or placingat least a portion of a fifth door body within the aperture to apply anintermediate layer of restorative material, the intermediate layer ofrestorative material comprising a first restorative material that isdifferent than a material applied during final layering by the firstdoor body.

Clause 118: The method of clause 117, wherein the additional restorativematerial comprises first additional restorative material, furthercomprising, after placing the first additional restorative material andat least one of the at least the portion of the second door body, thethird door body, the fourth door body, or the fifth door body within theaperture, curing the first additional restorative material with the doorwithin the aperture, adjusting the cured composite (e.g., by cuttingback the composite to create an underlying geometry), placing secondadditional restorative material in the mold cavity, placing at least oneof the at least the portion of the second door body, the third doorbody, the fourth door body, or the fifth door body within the aperture,and curing the second additional restorative material.

Clause 119: The method of claim 118, wherein the first and additionalrestorative materials are the same.

Clause 120 The method of claim 118, wherein the first and additionalrestorative materials are different.

Clause 121: The method of any of clauses 107-120, wherein at least oneof the mold body or the door body defines at least one protrusionconfigured to provide a gripping mechanism for a practitioner, whereinone or more of attaching the mold body to at least one tooth, placing atleast the portion of the door body within the aperture, or removing thedoor body and the mold body from the at least one tooth comprisesgripping at least one protrusion of the at least one protrusion.

Clause 122: The method of clause 121, wherein the at least oneprotrusion defines one or more ribs.

Clause 123: The method of clause 121 or 122, wherein the at least oneprotrusion defines a structure configured to mate with at least aportion of a clamp, the method further comprising mating at least theportion of the clamp with the structure.

Clause 124: The method of any of clauses 121-123, wherein the at leastone protrusion defines at least one lever configured to provide amechanism for use in prying the mold body away from the tooth to berestored, and wherein removing the mold body from the at least one toothcomprises using the lever to pry the mold body away from the tooth to berestored.

Clause 125: The method of any of clauses 99-124, wherein the mold bodycomprises a ridge configured to contact at least a portion of a tooth tobe restored of the at least one tooth to concentrate sealing pressure atat least a portion of a perimeter of the mold cavity.

Clause 126: The method of clause 125, wherein the at least the portionof the perimeter of the mold cavity is configured to be locatedproximate to a gingival contour of the tooth when the mold body combineswith at least the at least one tooth of the patient to form the moldcavity.

Clause 127: The method of any of clauses 99-126, wherein the mold bodydefines an edge defining a contour configured to substantially match atleast a portion of a gingival margin of the tooth.

Clause 128: The method of any of clauses 99-127, wherein filling themold cavity comprises placing the restorative material through theaperture and into the mold cavity.

Clause 129: The method of any of clauses 99-128, wherein filling themold cavity comprises filling the mold body with restorative materialbefore attaching the mold body to the at least one tooth.

Clause 130: The method of any of clauses 99-129, wherein filling themold cavity comprises placing the restorative material on the tooth tobe restored before attaching the mold body to the at least one tooth.

Clause 131: A method of designing a tool for forming a dentalrestoration of a tooth, the method comprising: receiving, by one or moreprocessors, a three dimensional scan data of a tooth structure of apatient; and designing, by the one or more processors, a tool forforming the dental restoration of the tooth based on the threedimensional scan data of the mouth of the patient, wherein the toolcomprises a mold body configured to provide a customized fit with atleast one tooth of a patient, the mold body defining an apertureconfigured to align with a portion of a surface of the at least onetooth, the aperture being sufficiently large to allow placement and flowof a restorative material to cover the portion of the at least one toothbeing restored, the mold body being configured to combine with the atleast one tooth to define a mold cavity encompassing at least a portionof desired tooth structure of the at least one tooth to be restored.

Clause 132: A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprisinga mold body configured to combine with a tooth of a patient to define amold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired tooth structureof the tooth, the portion of desired tooth structure defining aninterproximal surface of the tooth, the mold body comprising a basemember configured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth ofthe patient to attach the mold body to the at least one tooth, and aninterproximal member extending from the base member and configured to bedisposed between adjacent teeth of the patient when the base member isfit over the at least one tooth, the interproximal member defining asurface of the mold cavity.

Clause 133: The tool of clause 132, wherein the base member isconfigured to provide a customized fit with a lingual surface ofadjacent teeth of the patient and the interproximal member is configuredto be disposed between the adjacent teeth when the mold body ispositioned over the at least one tooth.

Clause 134: The tool of clause 132 or clause 133, wherein the basemember comprises a first base member and a second base member, and thetooth is a first tooth, the first base member being configured toprovide a customized fit with an incisal or occlusal surface of thefirst tooth, and the second base member being configured to provide acustomized fit with an incisal or occlusal surface of a second tooth.

Clause 135: The tool of clause 134, wherein the first and second teethare directly adjacent to each other and the interproximal surface of thefirst tooth is between the first and second teeth.

Clause 136: The tool of clause 134, wherein the first and second teethare not directly adjacent to each other and the interproximal surface ofthe first tooth is between the first tooth and a third tooth.

Clause 137: The tool of any of clauses 132-136, wherein theinterproximal member extends around one or more of a lingual surface, afacial surface, an incisal surface, or an occlusal surface of the tooth.

Clause 138: The tool of any of clauses 132-137, where the mold bodycomprises a first mold body and the mold cavity comprises a first moldcavity, the tool further comprising a second mold body defining anaperture configured to align with a portion of another surface of thetooth to be restored, the second mold body being configured to combinewith at least one tooth of the patient to define a second mold cavityencompassing at least the portion of the tooth to be restored, whereinthe aperture is larger than a tip of a restorative dental materialintroduction device and configured to allow placement and flow of arestorative material into the second mold cavity to cover the portion ofthe tooth to be restored.

Clause 139: The tool of clause 138, wherein a ratio of an area of theaperture to a cross-sectional area of the tip is greater than or equalto about 2:1.

Clause 140: The tool of clause 138, wherein the aperture is configuredto align with a majority of the portion of the other surface of thetooth.

Clause 141: The tool of any of clauses 138-140, further comprising adoor body corresponding to the portion of the other surface of the toothto be restored, at least a portion of the door body being configured tomate with the aperture, wherein the second mold body and the door bodyare configured to combine with the at least one tooth to define thesecond mold cavity.

Clause 142: A method of designing a tool for forming a dentalrestoration of a tooth, the method comprising receiving, by one or moreprocessors, a three dimensional scan data of a tooth structure of apatient, and designing, by the one or more processors, a tool forforming the dental restoration of the tooth based on the threedimensional scan data of the mouth of the patient, wherein the toolcomprises a mold body configured to combine with a tooth of a patient todefine a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired toothstructure of the tooth, the portion of desired tooth structure definingan interproximal surface of the tooth, the mold body comprising a basemember configured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth ofthe patient to attach the mold body to the at least one tooth, and aninterproximal member extending from the base member and configured to bedisposed between adjacent teeth of the patient when the base member, theinterproximal member defining a surface of the mold cavity.

Clause 143: The method of clause 142, further comprising at least one ofcontrolling, by the one or more processors, a three-dimensional printerto define the tool or manufacturing the tool by a CAD/CAM millingprocesses.

Clause 144: A method for forming a dental restoration, the methodcomprising: attaching a mold body to at least one tooth of a patient,the mold body configured to combine with a tooth of the patient todefine a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired toothstructure of the tooth, the portion of desired tooth structure definingan interproximal surface of the tooth, the mold body comprising a basemember configured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth ofthe patient to attach the mold body to the at least one tooth, and aninterproximal member extending from the base member and configured to bedisposed between adjacent teeth of the patient when the base member, theinterproximal member defining a surface of the mold cavity, filling themold cavity with a restorative material, curing the restorativematerial, and removing the mold body from the at least one tooth.

Clause 145: The method of clause 144, wherein the mold body comprises afirst mold body, and the mold cavity comprises a first mold cavity, themethod further comprising after removing the first mold body from the atleast one tooth, attaching a second mold body to the at least one tooth,the second mold body defining an aperture configured to align with aportion of another surface of the tooth to be restored, the second moldbody being configured to combine with at least one tooth of the patientto define a second mold cavity encompassing at least the portion of thetooth to be restored, wherein the aperture is larger than a tip of arestorative dental material introduction device and configured to allowplacement and flow of a restorative material into the second mold cavityto cover the portion of the tooth to be restored, filling the secondmold cavity with restorative material, curing the restorative materialin the second mold cavity, and removing the second mold body from the atleast one tooth.

Clause 146: The method of clause 145, wherein filling the first moldcavity or the second mold cavity comprises at least one of introducingthe restorative material into the respective mold cavity after attachingthe respective mold body to the at least one tooth, introducing therestorative material into the respective mold body before attaching therespective mold body to the at least one tooth, or applying therestorative material to the tooth before attaching the respective moldbody to the at least one tooth.

These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims.

1. A tool for forming a dental restoration, the tool comprising: a moldbody configured to combine with a tooth of a patient to define a moldcavity encompassing at least a portion of desired tooth structure of thetooth, the portion of desired tooth structure defining an interproximalsurface of the tooth, the mold body comprising: a base member configuredto provide a customized fit with at least one tooth of the patient toattach the mold body to the at least one tooth; and an interproximalmember extending from the base member and configured to be disposedbetween adjacent teeth of the patient when the base member, theinterproximal member defining a surface of the mold cavity.
 2. The toolof claim 1, wherein the base member is configured to provide acustomized fit with a lingual surface of adjacent teeth of the patientand the interproximal member is configured to be disposed between theadjacent teeth when the mold body is positioned over the at least onetooth.
 3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a firstbase member and a second base member, and the tooth is a first tooth,the first base member being configured to provide a customized fit withan incisal or occlusal surface of the first tooth, and the second basemember being configured to provide a customized fit with an incisal orocclusal surface of a second tooth.
 4. The tool of claim 3, wherein thefirst and second teeth are directly adjacent to each other and theinterproximal surface of the first tooth is between the first and secondteeth.
 5. The tool of claim 3, wherein the first and second teeth arenot directly adjacent to each other and the interproximal surface of thefirst tooth is between the first tooth and a third tooth.
 6. The tool ofclaim 1, wherein the interproximal member extends around one or more ofa lingual surface, a facial surface, an incisal surface, or an occlusalsurface of the tooth.
 7. The tool of claim 1, where the mold bodycomprises a first mold body and the mold cavity comprises a first moldcavity, the tool further comprising a second mold body defining anaperture configured to align with a portion of another surface of thetooth to be restored, the second mold body being configured to combinewith at least one tooth of the patient to define a second mold cavityencompassing at least the portion of the tooth to be restored, whereinthe aperture is larger than a tip of a restorative dental materialintroduction device and configured to allow placement and flow of arestorative material into the second mold cavity to cover the portion ofthe tooth to be restored.
 8. The tool of claim 7, wherein a ratio of anarea of the aperture to a cross-sectional area of the tip is greaterthan or equal to about 2:1.
 9. The tool of claim 7, wherein the apertureis configured to align with a majority of the portion of the othersurface of the tooth.
 10. The tool of claim 7, further comprising a doorbody corresponding to the portion of the other surface of the tooth tobe restored, at least a portion of the door body being configured tomate with the aperture, wherein the second mold body and the door bodyare configured to combine with the at least one tooth to define thesecond mold cavity
 11. A method of designing a tool for forming a dentalrestoration of a tooth, the method comprising: receiving, by one or moreprocessors, a three-dimensional scan data of a tooth structure of apatient; and designing, by the one or more processors, a tool forforming the dental restoration of the tooth based on thethree-dimensional scan data of the mouth of the patient, wherein thetool comprises: a mold body configured to combine with a tooth of apatient to define a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion ofdesired tooth structure of the tooth, the portion of desired toothstructure defining an interproximal surface of the tooth, the mold bodycomprising: a base member configured to provide a customized fit with atleast one tooth of the patient to attach the mold body to the at leastone tooth; and an interproximal member extending from the base memberand configured to be disposed between adjacent teeth of the patient whenthe base member, the interproximal member defining a surface of the moldcavity.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising at least one of:controlling, by the one or more processors, a three-dimensional printerto define the tool; or manufacturing the tool by a CAD/CAM millingprocesses.
 13. A method for forming a dental restoration, the methodcomprising: attaching a mold body to at least one tooth of a patient,the mold body configured to combine with a tooth of the patient todefine a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired toothstructure of the tooth, the portion of desired tooth structure definingan interproximal surface of the tooth, the mold body comprising: a basemember configured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth ofthe patient to attach the mold body to the at least one tooth; and aninterproximal member extending from the base member and configured to bedisposed between adjacent teeth of the patient when the base member, theinterproximal member defining a surface of the mold cavity; filling themold cavity with a restorative material; curing the restorativematerial; and removing the mold body from the at least one tooth. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein the mold body comprises a first moldbody, and the mold cavity comprises a first mold cavity, the methodfurther comprising: after removing the first mold body from the at leastone tooth, attaching a second mold body to the at least one tooth, thesecond mold body defining an aperture configured to align with a portionof another surface of the tooth to be restored, the second mold bodybeing configured to combine with at least one tooth of the patient todefine a second mold cavity encompassing at least the portion of thetooth to be restored, wherein the aperture is larger than a tip of arestorative dental material introduction device and configured to allowplacement and flow of a restorative material into the second mold cavityto cover the portion of the tooth to be restored; filling the secondmold cavity with restorative material; curing the restorative materialin the second mold cavity; and removing the second mold body from the atleast one tooth.